Ancelotti's second spell at Madrid brought success and stability during a difficult time. When he returned in 2021, the squad lacked depth and the stadium was under construction. Still, he led them to a La Liga and Champions League double in his first season back.
Despite early success, cracks started to show. Key areas of the team were not reinforced, and tensions grew behind the scenes. Disagreements emerged over training and discipline, and president Florentino Perez became increasingly vocal. Concerns grew over Ancelotti's management of young talents like Arda Guler and Endrick.
By October, the club began planning for change. Leverkusen respected a verbal agreement with Alonso, allowing him to leave for an offer he could not refuse. Perez sees him as the long-term solution.
Alonso, 43, has impressed at Leverkusen, going unbeaten in the Bundesliga and winning the German Cup. However, the Real Madrid job comes with enormous pressure. He must manage big stars like Mbappe and Vinicius Jr, develop young players, and meet sky-high expectations from the board, fans, and media.
Before Alonso takes over, Madrid must beat Barcelona on Sunday to keep their La Liga hopes alive. A loss would likely end their title chances.
Ancelotti, the club's most successful manager with 15 trophies, deserves a proper farewell. He brought calm and success, but the dressing room eventually grew divided. Players stopped responding, and even he admitted it was one of the toughest squads he had ever managed.
He requested reinforcements in January but was turned down. Outwardly loyal, his words sounded like pressure to the club. Talks with the Brazil national team have advanced, and Ancelotti is expected to take over once the season ends.
There is still a financial matter to settle, as Ancelotti wants compensation if the club chooses to let him go before his contract ends in 2026. If resolved, someone else may lead the team at the upcoming Club World Cup.
His assistant, Davide Ancelotti, is also likely to start his own coaching journey, with strong interest from European clubs. His next step, like many at Real Madrid, is yet to be confirmed.
