Carlo Ancelotti Lists Nine of the Best Real Madrid Players He Managed

The Italian coach won silverware everywhere he went including every top European league.

Carlo Ancelotti is the only manager to win five Champions League trophies. / Buda Mendes/Getty Images

Carlo Ancelotti refused to pick a best XI given the sheer amount of talent he worked with during his career, instead opting to highlight 28 stars in one of the most stacked résumés ever.

Though his second stint with Real Madrid came to an unceremonious end, Ancelotti is undoubtedly one of the greatest managers ever, arguably the greatest considering the trophies he won. Ancelotti is the only manager to win each of Europe’s top five leagues and is the only manager to win five Champions Leagues, too.

What might go unnoticed, though, is the list of footballing icons he managed over the last 30 years.

Now leading the Brazil national team, the 66-year-old recently spoke with Gary Lineker on the latter’s The Rest is Football podcast.

Refusing to name a best XI, Ancelotti instead reminded everyone of the big names he managed.

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Ancelotti Highlights 28 Standout Players From Managerial Career

Carlo Ancelotti (left) was succeeded by Xabi Alonso (right) at Real Madrid. / IMAGO/Gribaudi/ImagePhoto

The Italian did not name any attackers, but here’s the full breakdown of goalkeepers, defenders and midfielders:

Notable Goalkeepers Managed by Ancelotti

Thibaut Courtois has been among the elite for some time. / Mateo Villalba/Getty Images

• Angelo Peruzzi - Juventus
• Dida - AC Milan
• Petr Čech - Chelsea
• Manuel Neuer - Bayern Munich
• Iker Casillas - Real Madrid
• Thibaut Courtois - Real Madrid
• Gianluigi Buffon - Parma

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Notable Defenders Managed by Ancelotti

Paolo Maldini served AC Milan for 25 years. / Etsuo Hara/Getty Images

• John Terry - Chelsea
• Alex - AC Milan
• Ricardo Carvalho - Chelsea
• Jaap Stam - AC Milan
• Alessandro Nesta - AC Milan
• Paolo Maldini - AC Milan
• Sergio Ramos - Real Madrid
• Pepe - Real Madrid
• Raphaël Varane - Real Madrid

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Notable Midfielders Managed by Ancelotti

Frank Lampard is the Premier League’s highest-scoring midfielder. / Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

• Andrea Pirlo - AC Milan
• Xabi Alonso - Real Madrid
• Toni Kroos - Real Madrid
• Luka Modrić - Real Madrid
• Casemiro - Real Madrid
• Frank Lampard - Chelsea
• Michael Ballack - Chelsea
• Michael Essien - Chelsea
• Arturo Vidal - Bayern Munich
• Clarence Seedorf - AC Milan
• Gennaro Gattuso - AC Milan
• Massimo Ambrosini - AC Milan

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Club Breakdown per Ancelotti’s List

Clubs	Players Named
Real Madrid	9
AC Milan	9
Chelsea	6
Bayern Munich	2
Juventus	1
Parma	1

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And that doesn’t even include attackers and the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Filippo Inzaghi, Vinicius Junior, Andriy Shevchenko, Karim Benzema, Kylian Mbappé, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Gareth Bale and others.

Plus, he left out players like Kaká, Cafu, Gianluca Zambrotta and Marcelo.

Ancelotti might be happy to stack not only his trophy haul against other managers, but even the list of players he’s managed might rival anyone.

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