Carletto, the quiet leader
Thumbnail Picture: Vinicius Jr.’s Instagram Profile
With a straightforward 4-0 win against Espanyol, Real Madrid secured their 35th Liga almost one month in advance.
Such a remarkable achievement (considering the fact that the Galacticos had to deal with hostile competitors such as Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, and Barcelona) acquires even a most prominent position when considering the man who guided his players to the final triumph: coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Real Madrid players celebrate Carletto after raising the Liga trophy. Credits: ANSA
The 62-year-old from Italy, with a past career as a midfielder in the Serie A, has become the first manager to win a title in each of Europe’s top five leagues: England, France, Italy, Germany, and Spain.
Credits Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
In England, Ancelotti led Chelsea to raise the Premier League trophy in season 2009-2010 while winning the FA Cup and the Community Shield.
Ancelotti, after winning the Ligue 1 with PSG in season 2012-2013 Credits: Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters
In season 2012-2013, Ancelotti won the Ligue 1 with Paris Saint Germain. The team was not sprinkled with superstars as it is today. However, it could count on players of the caliber of Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva (who was also captain of the team), and David Beckham.
Carletto raised most of his trophies sitting on Milan’s bench. He won the Serie A back in season 2003-2004. However, he gathered most of his successes outside the Italian borders with two Champions Leagues (seasons 2002-2003 and 2006-2007) and a Club World Cup in 2007.
He also expanded his CV with a Bundesliga in season 2016-2017 while sitting on Bayern Munich bench.
This season, Ancelotti was called to pick up from where Zinedine Zidane left.
Despite holding such a vast number of trophies in his career as a manager, he wasn’t the first name in president Florentino Perez’s mind.
After all, Carletto’s prior colorless experiences with Napoli and Everton had made most of his fans think that his time at the top levels was over.
After the rejections of Massimiliano Allegri, Mauricio Pochettino, and Antonio Conte, Perez had to settle for Ancelotti.
On his side, he had the good memories that he left on Madrid supporters’ minds with the triumph in the 2013-2014 Champions League.
Plus, what could be considered his main quality. What makes him stand out among most of today’s coaches.
Ancelotti is, by his own definition in a book published in 2016, a “quiet leader.”
This means that he might not have the tactical acumen typical of Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp’s enthralling fighting spirit.
However, Ancelotti is one of the best when it comes to working on his players’ minds. On make them feel supported and encouraged.
Take Real Madrid’s actual season as an example.
Seasoned players such as Luka Modric and Karim Benzema, respectively 36 and 34 years old and previously considered by many over the hill, have been wholly revitalized.
Credits: LaPresse
On the other hand, Ancelotti has also shown capacity in cultivating and encouraging young prospects such as Vinicius Jr., only 21 years old and yet the second player in terms of goals scored after Benzema.
Despite the triumph in their national league, this season still holds a lot to say for Real Madrid.
The Blancos will be called to overturn a 4-3 defeat against Manchester City in order to reach the Champions League final.
In case of a final victory, Ancelotti would secure another considerable achievement.
He would become the first coach to win the Champions League four times.
Surely, the “Silent Leader” will do his best to guide his players toward the trophy.