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Carlo Ancelotti has been named UEFA Men’s Coach of the Year for 2021/22 after leading Real Madrid to Champions League, LaLiga Santander and Supercopa de Espana success last season.
The Italian coach was voted ahead of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp, who led the Reds to the Champions League final.
“Thank you for this award,” Ancelotti said.
“Thanks to Arrigo Sacchi, who was a great teacher for me. I have to thank my players, my club, my coaching staff. I also have to thank our fans for those great nights at the Santiago Bernabeu.
“And my president, who has given me the opportunity to return to Real Madrid. To all my family [whom he named one by one], too, who give me space to do my job.
“There is no magic formula to win. But I have a lot of passion for the sport. Secondly, the quality of the players you have to coach.
“It was a special season, because we had a very good squad, a good mix between veterans and young players. And that connection was very positive within the dressing room. There was a lot of team chemistry, especially with the fans.”
Villarreal coach Unai Emery came fifth with 74 points behind Eintracht Frankfurt boss Oliver Glasner, who was fourth with 75 points and ahead of Jose Mourinho (51 points), who won the Conference League with Roma.
“An initial shortlist of six coaches was selected by UEFA’s technical study group,” UEFA’s website reads.
“The top three nominees were voted by a jury comprising the clubs that participated in the group stages of the 2021/22 UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League and A group of journalists selected by the European Sports Media (ESM).
