Carlo Ancelotti has grabbed a big piece of history in European football as the only manager to win the league title in all five of Europe’s top leagues.
Real Madrid cooly dispatched RCD Espanyol at the Santiago Bernabeu to seal a record-extending 35th league title. The league victory puts Real Madrid as the club with the most league titles in the top flight of European football.
Los Blancos needed just a point to be confirmed as champions but they did not settle for less as they ran riot in front of their fans. Two goals from teenager Rodrygo Goes, one from Marco Asensio and another from usual suspect Karim Benzema made the league title even better.
Madrid won the title in the 201/20 season but could not celebrate with fans because of lockdown measures enforced due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They lost the league to city rivals Atlético de Madrid last season, who could not celebrate with fans as well. They have now celebrated with the fans on the pitch and will take to the streets of Madrid at the end of the season.
The win was especially big for Ancelotti who had won titles with Chelsea in England, Paris Saint-Germain in France, Bayern Munich in Germany and AC Milan in Italy. The legendary manager was given another shot at the only league he failed to win in his first stint when he was appointed at the beginning of the season following the exit of Zinedine Zidane.
Ancelotti speaks on title triumph
62-year-old Ancelotti was a bundle of joy after the final whistle. Despite his age, he was seen jumping running around and celebrating with his players, staff and the fans.
“I’m very proud of this,” Ancelotti said to journalists. “I’ve had a very long season, but I’m still enjoying it. Now I’m with Real Madrid, and to win with Real Madrid is very special.
“This is the first time for me to win a title at the (Santiago) Bernabeu, and the atmosphere here is special.
“I told Marcelo that I wanted to keep going [when his players threw him in the air to celebrate],” Ancelotti joked. “I was enjoying being up there in the air.”
The former Everton manager is also on the cusp of another big piece of history in European football.
Along with Bob Paisley and Zinedine Zidane, Ancelotti is the only manager to win the UEFA Champions League three times. His first two titles came while he was at Milan, and the third came in 2014 when he won Madrid’s 10th title.
He is currently in the semi-finals of this season’s competition and a win will make him the first and only manager to win it four time.
However, his side will have to overcome Manchester City on Wednesday night to progress to the finals.
