Real Madrid have sacked coach Carlo Ancelotti after the world’s richest club by income failed to win major silverware this season. According to the local media, Napoli’s Rafa Benitez is the favourite to succeed him.
The board of directors have decided this evening to relieve Carlo Ancelotti of his duties.
– Florentino Perez, President of Real Madrid
“The demands are huge and we believe it is the right moment to give fresh impetus that will allow us to win more titles and reach our optimum competitive level in a new phase.”
The club will announce a successor next week, Perez said.
Apart from Benitez, the other frontrunners are German Juergen Klopp, who has quit Borussia Dortmund, and former Real player Michel who has had spells running the B team at the Bernabeu and clubs including Getafe and Sevilla.
Italian Ancelotti, who had a three-year contract that was due to run until the end of next season, led the club to a record-extending 10th European crown and a King’s Cup triumph in his first term in charge in 2013-14.
However, this term they were eliminated in the Champions League semi-finals by Juventus while Barcelona won their fifth La Liga title in seven years. Real also lost to Atletico Madrid in the King’s Cup last 16 in January.
Real won the European Super Cup and the Club World Cup but Ancelotti’s failure to win any of the three trophies that make up the traditional treble was deemed unacceptable.
Perez’s decision came despite strong public backing for Ancelotti from players including top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo, midfielder Luka Modric and forward James Rodriguez.
(With inputs from Reuters)
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