Real Madrid Makes Ancelotti’s Departure Official, Calling the Coach a ‘True Legend’ 

Real Madrid's coach Carlo Ancelotti holds the trophy after defeating Atletico Madrid in their Champions League final soccer match at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon, May 24, 2014. (Reuters)
Real Madrid's coach Carlo Ancelotti holds the trophy after defeating Atletico Madrid in their Champions League final soccer match at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon, May 24, 2014. (Reuters)
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Real Madrid Makes Ancelotti’s Departure Official, Calling the Coach a ‘True Legend’ 

Real Madrid's coach Carlo Ancelotti holds the trophy after defeating Atletico Madrid in their Champions League final soccer match at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon, May 24, 2014. (Reuters)
Real Madrid's coach Carlo Ancelotti holds the trophy after defeating Atletico Madrid in their Champions League final soccer match at the Luz Stadium in Lisbon, May 24, 2014. (Reuters)

Real Madrid made it official on Friday that Carlo Ancelotti is leaving the club after the end of the Spanish league this weekend. 

Ancelotti had already been announced as the next Brazil coach, but the Spanish club had yet to make any announcement about his departure. Ancelotti had another year left on his contract. 

“Real Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti have reached an agreement to bring an end to his time as Real Madrid coach,” the club said in a statement. “Our club wishes to express its gratitude and appreciation for a man who is a true legend of both Real Madrid and world football.” 

Madrid will pay tribute to Ancelotti on Saturday during the team's final match of the league season against Real Sociedad in the Spanish league at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Also bidding farewell on Saturday will be veteran midfielder Luka Modric. 

“Carlo Ancelotti will forever be part of the great madridista family,” Madrid club president Florentino Pérez said. “We feel incredibly honored to have had the chance to enjoy a coach who has helped us achieve so much success, but who has also embodied our club’s values in such exemplary fashion.” 

Madrid had not released any reaction or statement about its coach since Brazil’s announcement. 

The official announcement of Ancelotti's departure opens the way for Madrid to announce its next coach, who is widely expected to be Xabi Alonso. The former Madrid player recently confirmed he is leaving Bayer Leverkusen. 

Ancelotti is leaving after four mostly successful years in his second stint with Madrid, which won both the Champions League and the Spanish league last season. 

Ancelotti also coached the club from 2013-2015. In total, he was in charge of Madrid in more than 350 matches and helped it win three Champions Leagues, three Club World Cups, two Spanish leagues, two Copa del Reys, three UEFA Super Cups and two Spanish Super Cups. 

Madrid began the season by winning the UEFA Super Cup title, but has mostly struggled since then. Many Madrid fans blamed Ancelotti for its relatively poor season, saying he lost control over the squad and wasn’t able to get the team ready for the clasicos against Barcelona, which won the league. Madrid lost all four matches against the Catalan club this season. 



Oman Hires Carlos Queiroz as Coach in Push for World Cup Qualification

Iran's head coach Carlos Queiroz looks on ahead the start of the World Cup group B soccer match between Wales and Iran at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Nov. 25, 2022. (AP)
Iran's head coach Carlos Queiroz looks on ahead the start of the World Cup group B soccer match between Wales and Iran at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Nov. 25, 2022. (AP)
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Oman Hires Carlos Queiroz as Coach in Push for World Cup Qualification

Iran's head coach Carlos Queiroz looks on ahead the start of the World Cup group B soccer match between Wales and Iran at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Nov. 25, 2022. (AP)
Iran's head coach Carlos Queiroz looks on ahead the start of the World Cup group B soccer match between Wales and Iran at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan , Qatar, Nov. 25, 2022. (AP)

Oman hired Carlos Queiroz as its national-team coach Tuesday ahead of autumn games that will determine if the country advances to the World Cup for the first time.

The veteran Portuguese tactician led Iran into the 2014 and 2018 World Cups and will take over with immediate effect.

Oman and five other countries — Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar — have reached the fourth round of qualifying. From groups of three, the two winners will qualify for the 2026 World Cup next summer in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

The fourth-round draw will be on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The matches are in October. After those, there’s one additional round — the second-place finishers square off in November for a spot in a playoff tournament.

“This comes as part of efforts to improve the team’s performances for upcoming games,” the Oman Football Association said in a statement.

Queiroz replaces Rashid Jaber, who led Oman to a fourth-place finish in the third round to keep qualification hopes alive.

The 72-year-old Queiroz has also coached Real Madrid, Portugal, Egypt, Colombia and Qatar.

Queiroz was fired as Qatar coach in December 2023 after 11 games in charge.