Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has been named on the three-man shortlist for FIFA’s Coach of the Year award, it has been announced.
He is joined by Diego Simeone, manager of city rivals Atletico de Madrid, and Joachim Loew, the German boss who lead his country to World Cup success in the summer. The winner of the award will be announced at a ceremony in January at FIFA’s headquarters in Switzerland.
Ancelotti enjoyed a glorious first season in charge of Los Blancos last year and will go down in the history books as being the man who lead the side to the coveted Decima – the club’s 10th Champions League crown. He masterminded the success in Europe, with Los Blancos seeing off Bayern Munich in the semi-finals and Atletico in a memorable final in Lisbon.
The Italian also guided the Spanish giants to success in the Copa del Rey. The defeated their neighbours Atletico in the semi-final stage before beating Barelona 2-1 in Valencia. It was a game in which Gareth Bale paid back a large chunk of the transfer fee shelled out on him, scoring a sensational winner in the dying minutes.
At the start of this campaign, Los Blancos also lifted the European Super Cup – Ancelotti’s third trophy in just 12 months at the club. And the club is going strongly now, winning 16 matches in a row to sit top of the table and progress to the next phase of the Champions League.
3 important trophies in just 12 months. 17 matches winning streak. I will give it to Ancelotti for sure.