Real Madrid boss QUITS: Ancelotti makes SHOCK resignation decision

Robin Bairner

• Updated: 20 Jan 2025 13:29 GMT
• 3 min read

Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has decided to resign as head coach of the Bernabeu side and will step down at the end of the season, according to reports from Spain.

Los Blancos have endured a frustrating start to the season, during which Ancelotti has come under pressure.

Although the Bernabeu side have eaten up Barcelona’s lead in LaLiga and opened up a seven-point gap at the top of the standings off the back of their rivals winning just one in eight, the Italian has also been comprehensively beaten in both Clasico encounters this term.

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On top of this, Real Madrid still have work to do in order to qualify from the Champions League. They sit 20th in the table, with three wins and three defeats with matches against Red Bull Salzburg and Brest to come.

Off the back of this, Ancelotti has decided to step down at the end of the season, Onda Cero reports. He will depart with one year still left to run on his deal.

Ancelotti not planning for retirement

It had been expected that the 65-year-old would leave Real Madrid at the end of 2023/24 amid interest from the Brazil national team but midway through the campaign he elected to sign a new two-year deal.

“Even if the season ends with title and the club wants him to honour his contract, he wants to close his time with Real Madrid this summer,” it reports.

“Ancelotti enjoys every day at the club to the full. He returned excited and has found complete happiness in the Spanish capital, but he also feels that this second stint in the Chamartin dugout will end in the summer whatever happens.

“He is not thinking about retirement, but rather about continuing to coach in another country.”

Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso is hot favourite to replace Ancelotti at Real Madrid, but this is not a deal that is taken for granted.