MADRID, 4 May. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Real Madrid will play their first Champions League final for 4 years at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on May 28, the fifth for their coach, Carlo Ancelotti, who goes down in history for being the coach with the most finals in European Cup, choosing to lift the ‘Orejona’ for the fourth time in his career on the bench.
After becoming the only coach to have won the five major leagues by proclaiming himself champion of LaLiga Santander for the 35th time, the Italian wants to continue adding to his enviable record with the most prestigious title on the continent.
Precisely, their last Champions League final meant the tenth European Cup for Real Madrid, when in 2014 they faced Atlético de Madrid, in a duel remembered for the miracle of the 93rd minute with Sergio Ramos as the protagonist. The whites touched the glory after 12 years of drought in Europe and they did it to the rhythm of Ancelotti’s baton, of whom they always say that he has the perfect qualities to get the most out of the most demanding moments.
And this Wednesday, after eliminating Manchester City in the semifinals of the Champions League, he will be able to play his fifth final of the highest European competition, after the one mentioned with Real Madrid and those he reached with Milan (2003, 2005 and 2007) .
He leaves behind relevant names that also accredit four finals such as Marcelo Lippi, with Juventus (1996, 1997, 1998, 2003); Alex Ferguson, in charge of Manchester United (1999, 2008, 2009, 2011); Miguel Muñoz, with the merengue team (1960, 1962, 1964, 1966); and Juergen Klopp, with Borussia Dortmund (2013) and Liverpool (2018, 2019 and 2022), precisely his rival in Paris.
In addition, Ancelotti could become, if he beats Liverpool in the Saint-Denis final, the only manager to win four Champions Leagues, enlarging his legacy on the bench and widening the respect of the football world with another great achievement. Only Bob Paisley, with Liverpool (1977, 1978 and 1981) and Zinedine Zidane, at the head of the Real Madrid bench (2016, 2017 and 2018), have also three Champions.
Similarly, this Wednesday’s victory will allow Carlo Ancelotti to become the second coach with the most appearances in the competition, with 179 when the final is played on May 28. This Wednesday he equaled the Frenchman Arsène Wenger -with Arsenal (171) and Monaco (7), while ahead of him he has Sir Alex Ferguson and the 190 he added at the helm of Manchester United.