Real Madrid Announces Carlo Ancelotti's Departure at End of Season
The Italian coach will leave the club upon contract expiry. Xabi Alonso from Bayer Leverkusen is the top candidate to replace him.
End of an era: Real Madrid announces Carlo Ancelotti's departure — who will replace the legend?
Main Event
Real Madrid officially announced that head coach Carlo Ancelotti will leave the club at the end of the 2025/2026 season due to contract expiration. The 66-year-old Italian specialist, under whose leadership the 'Whites' experienced a second golden era in the 21st century, has concluded his second stint in Madrid, which lasted from 2021 to 2026. During this time, the team under his guidance won the Spanish league twice, the Spanish Super Cup twice, the Copa del Rey once, and added two UEFA Champions League trophies, two UEFA Super Cups, one FIFA Club World Cup, and one Intercontinental Cup.
According to Spanish media, the decision for Ancelotti's departure was made long before the official announcement. Despite President Florentino Pérez's loyalty to the Italian, the team showed a significant decline in the 2025/2026 season, which management considered a signal for change. As reported by Cadena SER, Carlo Ancelotti's future at the helm of the Madrid club was under threat several weeks before the season's end — the team went winless in three consecutive matches, including a draw with Atlético Madrid and a defeat to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
The final straw, apparently, was Real Madrid's results in key tournaments. The 'Whites' finished second in La Liga with 86 points, trailing their arch-rival Barcelona (94 points). In the Champions League, the team was eliminated in the quarter-finals, losing to Bayern Munich with an aggregate score of 4-6. The Copa del Rey ended with a shocking defeat to Albacete (2-3) in the Round of 16, and in the Spanish Super Cup, Real lost in the final to the same Barcelona — 2-3.
According to sources, Carlo Ancelotti appeared worried and irritated in recent months, and the atmosphere in the locker room reportedly deteriorated significantly. The defeat to Athletic Bilbao at the end of the season and dropped points against mid-table teams finally convinced Pérez that Ancelotti's cycle had come to an end. The Italian's departure became inevitable — even a possible tournament victory could no longer save his job. Sources also note that besides sporting failures, the overall worsening team atmosphere influenced the decision: the coach failed to control the situation, and players began openly expressing dissatisfaction with tactical decisions.
Details and Statistics
Carlo Ancelotti's statistics during his second stint at Real Madrid are impressive, but the final season was tarnished. Over five years at the helm of the 'Whites' (from 2021 to 2026), the Italian managed 328 matches, securing 232 wins, 52 draws, and 44 losses. The win percentage stood at an impressive 70.7%, with a goal difference of 687:286 (+401). However, the 2025/2026 season was the weakest of this period: the team lost 11 matches in La Liga — the worst record during Ancelotti's tenure.
Real Madrid's last season under Ancelotti can be described as 'trophy-less'. For the first time in 16 years, the Madrid club ended the 2025/2026 campaign without a single trophy — neither in football nor basketball. The last time this happened was in the distant 2009/2010 season, when Real was first coached by Manuel Pellegrini and then José Mourinho (the basketball team also went without honors).
In La Liga, the team finished second with 86 points, trailing Barcelona (94 points). The 8-point gap in favor of the Catalans was the largest in the last three seasons. In the Champions League, elimination by Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals (2-2 at home and 2-4 away) was also a disappointment — Real failed to reach the semi-finals for the second consecutive year. In the Copa del Rey, the shocking defeat to Albacete (2-3) in the Round of 16 was a real shock for fans.
Despite the team's failures, individual player statistics were impressive. Kylian Mbappé, named Real Madrid's best player of the 2025/2026 season, scored 25 goals in 31 La Liga matches, becoming the league's top scorer. In the Champions League, the Frenchman also shone, scoring 15 goals in 11 matches and becoming the tournament's top scorer. However, even his outstanding performance could not save the team from a disastrous season.
| Indicator | Value (2025/26 season) |
|---|---|
| La Liga position | 2nd (86 points) |
| Gap behind Barcelona | 8 points |
| Champions League | Quarter-finals |
| Copa del Rey | Round of 16 |
| Spanish Super Cup | Final (defeat) |
| La Liga top scorer | Mbappé (25 goals) |
| Champions League top scorer | Mbappé (15 goals) |
Table: Real Madrid's 2025/2026 season results
Context and Significance
Carlo Ancelotti's departure marks the end of an entire era in Real Madrid's history. The Italian is undoubtedly one of the most successful coaches in the club's history. Over two periods in Madrid (2013-2015 and 2021-2026), he won 10 trophies, including three Champions Leagues. In 2014, he led Real to 'La Décima' — the long-awaited tenth European Cup — and repeated this success in 2022 and 2024.
However, the path to Ancelotti's departure was set long before the official announcement. According to The Athletic, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez began actively searching for a replacement for the Italian as early as mid-season 2025/2026. The candidate list included several big names: Mauricio Pochettino (US national team), Didier Deschamps (France national team), Unai Emery (Aston Villa), and even Lionel Scaloni (Argentina national team). Interestingly, Pochettino's candidacy was considered but no active negotiations followed, while Emery was personally rejected by Pérez — the Real president did not see him as a suitable candidate.
The most intriguing twist in this story involves Xabi Alonso — the Spanish specialist who was considered the main contender for the Real Madrid head coach position a year ago. In May 2025, Alonso indeed replaced Ancelotti, signing a three-year contract. However, his tenure at the helm of the 'Whites' turned out to be catastrophically short: the Spaniard lasted only six months at the club and was sacked in January 2026 after a defeat to Barcelona (2-3) in the Spanish Super Cup final.
The reasons for Alonso's failure at Real are now actively discussed by experts. Xabi arrived at the club after a triumphant period at Bayer Leverkusen, where he caused a sensation — leading the Leverkusen side to their first-ever league title, winning the German Cup and Super Cup, and setting a European record of 51 matches without defeat. However, at Real, his modern tactical ideas met resistance from star players. Spanish media reported that Alonso wanted to implement an aggressive pressing system, but Kylian Mbappé refused to constantly work without the ball. Vinícius Júnior was also unhappy with changes to his role, and tensions between the coach and team leaders became evident.
After Alonso's dismissal, the team was urgently taken over by Álvaro Arbeloa, who signed a contract until summer 2027. However, his appointment was initially seen as a temporary measure. Under Arbeloa, the locker room situation did not improve but rather worsened. According to media reports, a fight broke out between midfielders Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde right during training, resulting in the Uruguayan suffering an injury and being sidelined for 10-14 days. Real Madrid's management fined each player €500,000 and launched an internal investigation to identify the 'mole' leaking information to the press.
The 2025/2026 season was not just trophy-less for Real Madrid but truly crisis-ridden. The team lost not only titles but also internal harmony. As former Espanyol defender Andrey Mokh noted in an interview with Match TV, Real's problems began precisely with Ancelotti's departure, under whom the team won trophies and maintained balance. The Italian's exit, in his opinion, sparked discord, two coaches in one season, constant conflicts with the ambitious Vinícius, and Mbappé's alienation from the group.
What's Next / Next Match Preview
Ahead for Real Madrid is the 38th round La Liga match against modest Elche, which is a formality: the team has already secured second place. However, this match will be Carlo Ancelotti's last as head coach of the 'Whites'. It is expected that the entire Santiago Bernabéu stadium will give the Italian a standing ovation. After the match, a small farewell ceremony is planned, after which Ancelotti will likely take a career break or consider offers from other leagues.
As for Real Madrid's future, according to Goal.pl and The Athletic, President Florentino Pérez has already decided on the new head coach. Contrary to the expectations of many fans, who tipped Zinedine Zidane for the role (who, according to sources, is leaning towards taking over the French national team after the 2026 World Cup), the choice fell on José Mourinho. The Portuguese specialist previously worked at Real from 2010 to 2013 and is well acquainted with the club's specifics.
According to the publication, Mourinho signed a three-year contract with the Madrid club. Pérez apparently decided to bet on a coach with a strong character and experience managing star-studded locker rooms, which is especially relevant after the conflicts that arose under Alonso and Arbeloa. Mourinho faces a daunting task: to return the team to the top, restore relationships within the squad, and win at least one trophy next season to rehabilitate Real after the failed campaign.
The club's transfer policy will also be revised. It is expected that a large number of new players will arrive at Real alongside the new coach, as management recognizes the need for a significant squad overhaul. Over the past two years, Real has spent more than €200 million on new signings, including the acquisitions of Endrick and Mastantuono, who were brought in for the future but have not yet lived up to expectations. The next season will be a time of reset and transformation for the 'Whites'.
Editorial Forecast
Our editorial team believes that the appointment of José Mourinho is a bet on discipline and order. The Portuguese is known for his tough working style and ability to achieve results even in crisis situations. After successful periods at Fenerbahçe and Roma (where he won the Europa Conference League in 2022), Mourinho returns to Real as a more experienced and perhaps more flexible coach. However, his confrontational nature and past friction with Real players (recall his clashes with Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos) raise certain concerns.
If Mourinho manages to build a relationship with Kylian Mbappé, who is the undisputed leader of the team, Real has every chance to return to the top as early as next season. The French forward demonstrated incredible scoring even in a disastrous season for the team (40 goals in all competitions, including 25 in La Liga and 15 in the Champions League), and with a well-structured tactic, his goal-scoring numbers could become even higher.
In Mourinho's favor is also the fact that he has already won La Liga with Real, setting a scoring record in the 2011/2012 season (121 goals in a season). Fourteen years later, he returns to a club where he is remembered and respected. The only question is whether the Portuguese can find common ground with the new star-studded locker room, which includes players with huge egos: Mbappé, Vinícius, Bellingham, Rodrygo. If yes, Real will once again become the main contender for titles. If not, we will witness another coaching dismissal and a deepening crisis.
One should not discount the fact that Real's main rival in Spain remains Barcelona, which achieved a golden double this season (league and Super Cup) and looks confident. To regain hegemony, the 'Whites' will need not only a new coach but also targeted squad reinforcements, especially in defense and midfield. The 2026/2027 season promises to be one of the most interesting in Spanish football history — El Clásico with Mourinho on Real's bench against Xavi or his successor at Barcelona will be a true battle of titans.
— Editorial Team
