With Carlo Ancelotti’s future at Real Madrid in serious doubt ahead of the final La Liga game of the season, here’s a look at the Italian tactician’s all-time best XI from his career so far.
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Having managed so many European giants, Ancelotti has worked with a large number of the best players in the modern era. Where will the three-time Champions League winner end up next?
GK: Petr Cech
Although Ancelotti has also worked with the legendary Iker Casillas at Madrid and Dida at Milan, Chelsea great Petr Cech gets the nod in this lineup.
DR: Cafu
One of the best right-backs of all time, Cafu is comfortably in ahead of the likes of Branislav Ivanovic and Daniel Carvajal after his great success with Milan.
DL: Ashley Cole
A modern great at left-back, Chelsea legend Ashley Cole is another who easily gets in after his role in Ancelotti’s double-winning side of 2009/10.
DC: John Terry
One of the best centre-backs of the last twenty years, John Terry is a Chelsea legend who shone under Ancelotti’s management.
DC: Paolo Maldini
Another all-time great defender, Paolo Maldini is another superb player to have played under Ancelotti, and this amazing pairing gets in ahead of huge names like Thiago Silva and Sergio Ramos.
DM: Andrea Pirlo
In a deep-lying role in a midfield diamond, Andrea Pirlo is undoubtedly one of Ancelotti’s best midfield players after his key role in the all-conquering Milan sides of the early-to-mid 00s.
MC: Frank Lampard
A player who went goal-crazy under Ancelotti, Chelsea legend Frank Lampard is another of the finest midfielders Ancelotti has managed.
MC: Clarence Seedorf
A hugely underrated great of recent times, AC Milan legend Clarence Seedorf beats off some stern competition for a place in this side.
AMC: Kaka
A flop at Real Madrid, but Kaka became perhaps the best player in the world under Ancelotti’s guidance at Milan, putting in some memorable displays to win the Champions League for the Italians in 2007.
FC: Cristiano Ronaldo
Not strictly a striker, but Cristiano Ronaldo has continued his phenomenal goalscoring record since Ancelotti took over in Madrid, and is without a doubt the star of the Italian’s time in Spain.
FC: Didier Drogba
In ahead of big names such as Andriy Shevchenko, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Karim Benzema, Didier Drogba just gets the nod in this incredible all-time XI for his fantastic form in Ancelotti’s first season at Chelsea, as well as his great contribution to the Blues and the game in general.
