Ancelotti hints at retirement or coaching Canada after Real Madrid tenure | OneFootball

Carlo Ancelotti has suggested Real Madrid will be his last club coaching assignment in football.

On Saturday the Italian became the first coach to lift the top-flight title in all five of Europe’s leading leagues when Madrid clinched the LaLiga title, and on Wednesday he will be hoping to overcome Manchester City and move a step closer to winning the Champions League for the fourth time in his career.

But while the 62-year-old admits he has begun thinking about retirement, he doesn’t plan on walking away from Los Blancos anytime soon and he says will stay as long as he is wanted by the club.

“After Real, yes, I’ll probably stop,” Ancelotti told Amazon Prime.

“If Real Madrid keep me here for ten years, I will coach for ten years.

“I would like to be with my grandchildren, go on vacation with my wife, there are so many things to do that I have left out and that I would like to do. Going to many places I’ve never been. I’ve never been to Australia. I have never been to Rio de Janeiro. Visit my sister more often.

“Unfortunately you cannot do everything, and therefore the day I stop I will have all these things to do.”

Ancelotti has managed some of the biggest clubs in Spain, Italy, England, Germany and France but one thing missing from his illustrious career is an international assignment, and he admits it remains a temptation, with the Canadian national team being a surprise interest of his.

“Yes, there would be a national team but now it’s premature,” he added.

“Certainly not for this World Cup. World Cup 2026, why not? Could be. Canada? I’d love to, sure. Canada did very well.”

Ancelotti was also asked whether he can see Kylian Mbappé lining up alongside Karim Benzema and Vinícius Jr next season for Real Madrid and while he wouldn’t be drawn on Mbappé’s future, he did tip Benzema for the Ballon d’Or.

“In general, good players know how to play together,” he said.

“One of the characteristics of Benzema and his career has been continuity. He has always progressed, he has not had a career of ups and downs, a career that is constantly at high levels. Maybe now he is at the highest level of his career.

“Karim should not be trained, but not managed either. Karim must be used. He manages himself because he is a great professional, very humble, a great player.

“Karim is not told anything, this is the truth. He has solved many games for us, he has been decisive this season. At the moment he is one of the most famous players in the world and he maintains a great humility, and I believe that this is his strength.

“He is not winning only for Benzema, behind there is the strong structure of a strong club, and the quality of a high-level squad. He will win the Ballon d’Or.”