Ancelotti Has a New Date with History

The Intercontinental Cup final opens the door for the Italian manager to become Real Madrid’s most decorated coach (15 titles) in history.

Extraordinary achievements don’t lose their shine through repetition. The succession of memorable milestones in Carlo Ancelotti’s career is well known. A career as successful as it is exemplary, a role model for sport. Challenges follow one another with the same ease with which the Italian manager reaches the summit of his profession. No one in football has won more than Carletto.

But in his brilliant managerial career, there are still records to break, although they seem to dwindle each day given Ancelotti’s extensive trophy cabinet. One of them, the latest, is no small feat and could crown him as the definitive legend of Real Madrid, widely considered the best club in the world.

This Wednesday in Doha, Real Madrid will compete in the revived Intercontinental Cup, a title that already features prominently in both the club’s and the manager’s record. But here’s the key fact: a victory against Mexican side Pachuca, a tricky opponent for the final, would mark Carlo Ancelotti’s fifteenth title as Real Madrid manager. A trophy that would break his tie with the legendary Miguel Muñoz (14), until now the benchmark in Madrid’s imagination as the dugout’s totem.

Proud

Ancelotti, accordingly, didn’t hide his pride in the press room about the possibility of conquering his fifteenth title with Los Blancos: “It’s a sign of having done good work, that I have done good work, I believe I have. But I want to continue. It’s an honor to be compared to Miguel Muñoz and other managers who have had the luck to manage the biggest club in the world.” Today will be the big day.