Perez finally gets Ancelotti

When Carlo Ancelotti signs a three-year contract to become Real Madrid’s new coach this afternoon, president Florentino Perez will have finally landed his man.

A statement published on Real’s official website yesterday confirmed the 54-year-old Italian as Perez’s choice to succeed returning Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho and the appointment will be formalised in the Santiago Bernabeu’s royal box today before he meets the Spanish press for the first time.

Ancelotti’s arrival draws a line under the debate concerning his exit from Paris St Germain, where he will be succeeded by Laurent Blanc, and it supplies Perez with the coach he hopes could deliver a first Champions League trophy to Madrid since 2002.

“Carlo Michelangelo Ancelotti will coach Real Madrid next season,” the statement read. “The Italian has experienced success in every country where he has managed and arrives in the Spanish capital after being named coach of the season in France.”

Also quoted on Real’s website was an extract from Ancelotti’s 2009 biography ‘Preferisco la Coppa’ (I Prefer The Cup), in which the Italian recalls how Perez would always say goodbye to him at social functions using the same phrase: “Carlo, you’ll be my coach someday.”

A two-time Champions League winner with AC Milan, Ancelotti has won domestic league titles in three different countries during spells with the Rossoneri, Chelsea and PSG.

His eight-year stint at San Siro, where he had previously enjoyed five successful season as a player, also saw him claim the Serie A title, two Uefa Super Cups, the Club World Cup, two Coppa Italia trophies and the Italian Supercoppa alongside Champions League triumphs in 2003 and 2007.

A move to Chelsea to succeed Guus Hiddink materialised in 2009 and he guided the Londoners to a league and FA Cup double in 2010.

He was, however, sacked in May 2011 after Manchester United reclaimed the Premier League title.

After six months out of the game, ambitious PSG lured Ancelotti to Paris in December 2011 and he clinched the Ligue 1 title at the end of his first full season in charge.

Real’s priority remains securing the Champions League trophy for the first time since 2002 and Ancelotti’s record in the competition is likely to have helped him edge out his rivals for the position.

The club are also determined to reclaim the Primera Division title from Barcelona after Mourinho’s last season in charge saw Real finish a disappointing 15 points shy of the Catalans.

Madrid defender Sergio Ramos welcomed Ancelotti’s imminent appointment. He said: “I’m delighted he’s joined us, I can only say good things about him.

“He’s a great coach. You need to acknowledge his achievements, everything that he’s done at some of the biggest clubs in Europe.

“He’s been chosen because he brings a particular set of values that will help get the best out of every player.”

Minutes after news emerged that Ancelotti is Madrid bound, PSG confirmed Blanc, who has been in talks with the club since last week, as his replacement in the French capital.

A club statement read: “Paris St Germain is delighted to announce the appointment of Laurent Blanc as coach for the next two years. He will take charge of the squad on 1 July 2013 for the start of pre-season training.”

Ancelotti led PSG to the Ligue 1 title last term and Blanc, who achieved the same feat with Bordeaux in 2009, has been tasked with bringing further success to the club.

PSG also reached last season’s Champions League quarter-final, losing on away goals to Barcelona.

And their statement yesterday continued: “The board of Paris St Germain has given Laurent Blanc the mission to build on last season and to continue the club’s ascendancy towards the summits of the European game.”

Blanc, 47, also lifted the Coupe de la Ligue and was named Ligue 1 manager of the year in Bordeaux’s successful 2009 campaign before leading France into Euro 2012, where they suffered a quarter-final exit.