"I was so emotional. My grandfather is the same, and my father is the same. So if I cry, there's no problem, I won't hide it" - Carlo Ancelotti said before his final match in charge of Real Madrid.
Therefore, when tears fall at Santiago Bernabeu, it is no surprise. Real Madrid just defeated Real Sociedad with a score of 2-0 in the final match of the La Liga season. But the match itself is not important, and the result is also.
When the big screen of the stadium showed outstanding videos of Ancelotti's 6 years in Madrid as a coach, the camera cut across to show him on the touchline, looking back at everything. His eyes were red and his cheeks were swollen in an attempt to calm down. Ancelotti wiped away his tears and almost reluctantly stepped onto the pitch, holding a microphone to speak in front of the crowd.
"It's an honor and a pleasure to be coached by this club. It was an unforgettable story. No one can forget Karim Benzema's 3 goals against Paris St Germain in 2022. No one could forget Rodrygo's two goals against Manchester City in the same year.
No one can forget Joselu's two goals against Bayern Munich in 2024. And I will not forget every day I have spent here. Hello!" - the Italian captain emotionally shared.
Ancelotti, the most successful coach in Real Madrid's history, said goodbye. And he felt the weight of this moment. The time may be right, and his next destination - the Brazilian national team - could not be more exciting. But it was still a shock for Ancelotti to leave Madrid, the city he calls home, and the club he loves.
However, Ancelotti is not alone. Luka Modric, who is widely regarded as the club's all-time top midfielder, also played his final match at the Bernabeu. Before the match, two banners were raised high at both ends of the stadium. "Thank you, Carletto" and the rest are "Thank you, Legend" (a play on Modric).
Of course, Modric will still play in the FIFA Club World Cup this summer before leaving. For Ancelotti, these were the last moments for the royal team.
Ancelotti left Real Madrid before that. He was first sacked on 25 May 2015. When asked why, club president Florentino Perez said a famous sentence: "I don't know".
In fact, the reason is very simple: Madrid did not win any major titles that season, so Ancelotti had to leave. 10 years later, almost on this day, he passed away again, for the same reason.
But Ancelotti will forever be a part of this club. No coach has won more than 15 of Ancelotti's titles at the Bernabeu. Only Miguel Munoz - Los Blancos' captain for 15 years - has led the team in more games.
"My relationship with Real Madrid is eternal," Ancelotti said in a farewell statement.
And the same goes for memories, moments and meme. Ancelotti, wearing sunglasses and smoking chicken, was on the team's convertible bus after winning the 2022 tournament.
Ancelotti also chewed gum on the border continuously, a habit he had after quitting smoking. Ancelotti, showing off an iconic eyebrows, before easily answering a journalist's question, using his own blend of Spanish and Italian.
As Ancelotti said, no one who was part of Real Madrid's historic comeback run in the Champions League in 2022 could forget that moment.
" Obviously, the first memories that come to mind are the comebacks. The nights with Chelsea, PSG, Man City will be like that forever" - Ancelotti said.
Ancelotti turned Angel Di Maria into a box-to-box midfielder to win the Champions League title in 2013-2014; turned Karim Benzema into a scorer and won the Ballon d'Or in 2021-2022; turned Jude Bellingham into a free-kick attacking midfielder, leading Real's attack in 2023-2024.
The 65-year-old has found a tactical solution to all problems, until he faces a problem he cannot solve. That is how to include Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Bellingham and Rodrygo in the squad this season, while still maintaining the admirable collective commitment that helped Madrid win a double title a year ago.
"Real Madrid are a demanding club, but that is necessary. The club's history does not allow them to do it any other way," Ancelotti admitted.
