Ancelotti takes over at PSG

CARLO ANCELOTTI has been confirmed as new coach of Paris St Germain, the club announced at the Parc des Princes yesterday.

The move comes after Antoine Kombouare left the post earlier in the day, marking a return to the touchline for Ancelotti for the first time since he was sacked by Chelsea in May.

Ancelotti was pictured meeting PSG sporting director Leonardo in the French capital on Wednesday before yesterday’s confirmation he will take over the Ligue 1 leaders.

The deal, which took some time to put together, was confirmed after PSG revealed Kombouare had left the post just an hour before the press conference, which Ancelotti attended. Kombouare was constantly at the centre of scrutiny despite leading PSG to the top of the Ligue 1 table at the winter break.

However, the 48-year-old oversaw a premature Europa League exit at the group stage, which did not fit in with the club’s ambitious new Qatari owners, who have sought to reinvigorate the capital club with high-profile names. Ancelotti, 52, fits that bill and the former AC Milan boss could also be joined by David Beckham, whom he coached briefly at the Italian club during his first loan spell at the San Siro.

The French club expressed an interest in luring Beckham to Paris in September but according to reports in the French capital, his current club LA Galaxy have now emerged as the favourites to win his signature. PSG sporting director Leonardo denied there is any update surrounding the speculation that Beckham might be joining the Ligue 1 club.

“We have never said it was done,” Leonardo said. “We have a good relationship but I don’t know what he is going to do. There is always the question of his personal life. He is in Los Angeles.

“Nothing is signed.”

Ancelotti has joined PSG in a reported two-and-a-half year deal and will face former club AC Milan in his first game in charge in a friendly on January 4 in Dubai.

“I want to do a great job,” Ancelotti told reporters.

“I am delighted to be here as coach of Paris Saint-Germain. I think PSG is a fantastic club. I think I can do a great job to help PSG become a big club in Europe.

“The club has everything to succeed and enormous ambition.

“I will do my best to learn French in the best possible way, although I’d rather continue to speak in Italian.”

Ancelotti also confirmed that Claude Makelele will be his assistant coach.