Real Madrid’s 2-1 win at home to Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday means the coach Carlo Ancelotti has joined legendary Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson as the manager who has overseen the most wins in Champions League history.
Los Blancos’ triumph over the Ukrainians was the 102nd time Ancelotti tasted victory in the competition from the dugoutequaling the record set by Ferguson nearly a decade ago when his United team won at Braga in November 2012. Ironically, the last Champions League game the Scot ever managed was against Madridwho eliminated the Red Devils in the round of 16 a few months later.
Carlo Ancelotti has won Champions League games with Real Madrid and seven other clubs
Ancelotti’s first win in the competition as a manager came in October 1997, when the Parma team beat Galatasaray thanks to goals from the Argentinians Nestor Sensini and Hernán Crespo. Since, the Italian has led seven other clubs to win Champions League matches – Juventus, Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Napoli. During his 27-year management career, only two of the 10 clubs Ancelotti has managed have not made the Champions League – Reggiana, his first club, and Everton, whom he coached before his surprise return to Madrid in 2021.
And the former Italian international will not wait long to try to take the lead, with Real Madrid’s next match in the competition is on Tuesday, October 11when they travel to Warsaw for the second leg against Shakhtar.
Carlo Ancelotti – the manager who won the most Champions League trophies
Ancelotti is already the most decorated manager in European Cup/Champions League history, having lifted the trophy four times. Besides his two victories with Real Madrid (2013-14 and 2021-22), he won the tournament twice with Milan (2002-03 and 2006-07). He also won the European Cup twice with the Rossoneri as a player in 1988-89 and 1989-90.
Liverpool’s Bob Paisley and Zinedine Zidaneformer assistant to Ancelotti at the Bernabéu, are next on the list with threewhile a host of other managers, including Ferguson, Pep Guardiola, José Mourinho and Vicente del Bosque, have two titles.