Ancelotti: “After Real Madrid, I’ll probably retire”
The Italian spoke to Prime Video: “If the club want me to be the coach for the next 10 years, I will. But afterwards, I’d like to spend time with my grandchildren, see the world...”.
Just days after becoming the first coach in history to have won all five of Europe’s major football leagues, Carlo Ancelotti admitted that he is thinking about retirement. He hasn’t set a date to call it a day, and says he would be open to serving Real Madrid for another decade if they want him to... But when he does eventually leave, his coaching career will effectively be over. He revealed all in an interview for Prime Video will which will aired on Wednesday.
“I’d like to spend time with my grandchildren, go on holiday with my wife. There are so many things that you have to put aside in this job... I’ve never been to Australia; I’ve never been to Rio de Janeiro. I would like to visit my sister more often,” he explained. He also chatted about the idea of semi-retirement coaching a national team would give him a little more free time to do all of the things on his bucket list. He also stated without any doubt that “Benzema will win the Ballon d’Or”.
Retirement. “After Real Madrid, yes, I’ll probably retire. If the club want me to continue as coach for the next 10 years, I will. But afterwards, I’d like to spend time with my grandchildren, go on holiday with my wife. There are so many things that you have to put aside when you choose this job... For example, I’ve never been Australia, or Río de Janeiro. I’d like to visit my sister more often. Unfortunately, right now I can’t do any of that, so when I retire, I will have the chance to do all of those things”.
Coaching a national team. “It would interesting. I have an offer on the table, but it’s too soon for me. For the 2026 World Cup (Canada-USA-Mexico)... why not? You never know”. When asked if he would like to coach Canada’s national team, he replied: “I’d love to”.
Benzema. “He is at the top of his game right now. There’s no need to coach Karim, I don’t even need to tell him anything; just play him. He is able to manage himself because he is a model professional, and very humble. He has resolved a lot of decisive games for us this season. At this moment he is one of the most famous footballers in the world and in spite of that he remains very humble; that’s his strength. He’ll win the Ballon d’Or”.