Thomas Tuchel’s appointment as the new England coach has surprised many, especially given that the German was closely linked with a move to Manchester United as well.
However, Tuchel was not the only candidate for the Three Lions, who had apparently reached out to Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti as well, in their bid to find a new manager.
Ancelotti rejected England move
Indeed, according to AS, who cite former footballer and pundit Gary Lineker, it appears England had approached Ancelotti for the head coach position.
They wanted the Italian to lead the English team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, Ancelotti had no desire to take up the new role.
The Real Madrid coach rejected a move to England and opted to continue at the Santiago Bernabeu, where his contract does not expire until 2026.
Not the first time
This is not the first time Ancelotti has declined a move elsewhere, in favour of a prolonged stay at Real Madrid.
Last year, the Italian was closely linked with a move to the Brazilian national team. The Selecao had even reached out to him personally to make a plea.
However, Ancelotti refused to join the Brazilian national team as head coach. He also remained quite professional throughout the saga, refusing to talk about Brazil’s interest in public.
That said, the road ahead will be tough for Real Madrid and how well Ancelotti manages to navigate this difficult period could go a long way in dictating his future at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid, after all, are keeping close tabs on Xavi Alonso, who could join as potential head coach at the end of the season.
