CARLO’S GRAND SLAM
MADRID. — Carlo Ancelotti has become the first manager to win the top-flight title in all of the ‘‘big five’’ European leagues after Real Madrid claimed the La Liga trophy on Saturday.
The Italian had already won the Premier League, Serie ‘‘A’’ in Italy, the German Bundesliga and Ligue 1 in France.
Real’s 4-0 thumping of Espanyol ensured Ancelotti completed the ‘grand slam’ of trophies in the top European leagues.
“A lot of emotion, we have met a challenge,” Ancelotti said. “The season has been spectacular. Lots of consistency. I have to thank the players for their work and their attitude. Today we have to celebrate, not talk. I want to celebrate. It fills me with pride to win in the five major leagues. I can say that I like what I do. It means I’ve done pretty well.”
Ancelotti lifted Serie ‘‘A’’ with AC Milan back in 2004 — a year after guiding the Italian giants to Champions League glory — before he won the Premier League title with Chelsea six years later.
The Italian then went on to clinch the Ligue 1 crown with PSG in 2013 and the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich in the 2016-17 season.
The 62-year-old arrived for a second spell at Real last year knowing La Liga glory would propel him to a managerial record and his team delivered in style as the Spanish giants wrapped up the title with four games to go.
Real are 17 points clear of second-placed Sevilla, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Cadiz on Friday.
Ancelotti has now won 22 major honours in a trophy-laden career, including three Champions League crowns. He is the also the oldest manager to win La Liga at 62 years and 325 days.
The La Liga title eluded the Italian coach during his first stint in Madrid, although he did win the famous ‘‘La Decima’’ — the 10th European Cup in the club’s history — in 2014.
Ancelotti was lured back for a second spell at Real last summer following the departure of Zinedine Zidane, quitting Everton after 18 months at the Premier League club. The 62-year-old won five major titles in two years at the Bernabeu between 2013 and 2015, including ‘‘La Decima’’ — their 10th European Cup - but the Spanish title eluded him.
His first league title as a manager was with AC Milan in 2004, the club where he won the league twice as a player in the 1980s.
The Premier League with Chelsea followed in 2010, before Ancelotti lifted Ligue 1 with Paris
St-Germain in 2013 and the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich in 2017.
Ancelotti’s season could end in more glory, although Real must overturn a 4-3 first-leg deficit against City at the Bernabeu.
If they do reach the final and lift the trophy Ancelotti would become the only man to win the European Cup or Champions League four times as a manager, having also led AC Milan to the trophy in 2003 and 2007.
Wales forward Gareth Bale, who will leave Real Madrid when his contract expires this summer, was absent for the team’s title celebrations.
In a tweet Bale said: “So disappointed that I’m not able to be part of the celebrations this evening due to a bad back spasm but really proud of the team for winning the title.”