Real Madrid are set to re-appoint Carlo Ancelotti as head coach days after Zinedine Zidane stepped down after losing the La Liga title on the final day of the season.
The former Everton boss is set to return for a second stint after being in charge of Los Blancos for two seasons between 2013 and 2015 with fans both optimistic and uncertain on what he is going to bring.
Carlo Ancelotti Set For Real Madrid Reunion
Former Everton Manager Returns After Spending 18 Months on Merseyside
Carlo Ancelotti’s first tenure was filled with good memories as Los Blancos won their 10th Champions League title after a 12-year barren spell. The 61-year-old went on a historic trophy run starting with winning the club’s 19th Copa del Rey title before adding the Club World Cup and Super Cup in a season where the Galacticos won 74.7% of their games all season. A trophyless second season meant he could no longer continue at the Santiago Bernabeu as he was shown the door by club president Florentino Perez.
Fans Hope Italian Manager Brings Back Good Times
Ancelotti’s return has caused optimism among fans due to his previous achievements and also because they witnessed some amazing piece of football when he was at the helm. Los Blancos recorded a 22-game winning streak in 2014 from September 16 to December 20, scoring an impressive 80 goals while conceding just 10.
For all of the joie de vivre Ancelotti’s first spell brought to fans, it is important to keep expectations at minimal at this time, as the Italian will be coming to take charge of a slightly different squad to the one he piloted during his first spell.
Some of the heroes of La Decima are no longer at the club while those still present are either past their peak or on the verge of leaving.
The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Angel Di Maria, Sami Khedira, Fabio Coentrao and Iker Casillas are no longer with the club. Gareth Bale will be returning after his loan spell with Tottenham Hotspur ended.
Squad Reboot Needed by Carlo Ancelotti
The Italian manager however still has a strong contingent of players to rely on including talisman Karim Benzema, Marcelo, club captain Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Isco, Luka Modric and Dani Carvajal are still at the club albeit varying in status.
The contracts of Ramos, Varane, Isco and Marcelo are up in the air whilst Benzema, Modric and Carvajal could the last of La Decima dream team the Italian will reunite with.
Carlo Ancelotti already knows what he is getting himself into, he should be ready to dive into a pool of fire as he will be tasked to lead the overhaul the club has long been preaching.
The 61-year-old has some intriguing decisions ahead of him.
Will he keep the likes of Martin Ødegaard and Brahim Diaz at the club and give them a chance?
Where will he play new signing David Alaba?
Could Bale or Isco have another chance to play for the Galacticos now that the 61-year-old is around?
Can he revive the career of Eden Hazard after an injury-hit start to his career in Spain? What roles will Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo play moving forward?, and most importantly, can he take Los Blancos back to the very top where they belong?.
Soon enough the answers to these questions will be revealed to the world. The Bernabeu faithful is filled with optimism but by an equal measure of uncertainty too.
Main Image Credit
Embed from Getty Images