Cheese Farmer Boy Turned Managerial GOAT: Carlo Ancelotti’s History

It’s hard to imagine a real football fan who isn’t familiar with Carlo Ancelotti’s Childhood Story, given his legendary status as one of the most successful managers in football history. Known affectionately as ‘Carletto,’ Ancelotti stands out not only for his remarkable achievements but also for being the only coach to have won five UEFA Champions League titles.

This article dives into the lesser-known aspects of his journey, tracing his evolution from a young aspiring footballer to a legendary coach. We’ll explore his childhood, early career, and the pivotal moments that shaped him into the iconic figure he is today. Join us as we uncover the full story of Carlo Ancelotti and celebrate the incredible journey of a true footballing legend.

Cheese Farmer Boy Turned Managerial GOAT: Carlo Ancelotti's History

Cheese Farmer Boy Turned Managerial GOAT: Carlo Ancelotti’s History

Yes, everyone knows about his managerial abilities, one that has made Carlo Ancelotti is the only coach in history with five UEFA Champions League titles.. However, not many football fans have read a concise version of Carlo Ancelotti’s Biography, which is quite interesting. Now, without further ado, let’s Begin.

Carlo Ancelotti Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:

For Biography starters, Carlo Ancelotti was born on the 10th day of June 1959 to his parents – Mr and Mrs Giuseppe Ancelotti, who were Cheese farmers.

While he was a child, Carlo Ancelotti’s family resided in Reggiolo – where he grew up. This is a rural cheese-farming town in the heartlands of Northern Italy.

The town is famous not only for its parmesan cheese but for a certain eyebrow-raising of a world-class footballer and manager in the name of Carlo Ancelotti.

This is young Carlo Ancelotti. In his childhood, he looked so cute and adorable.

This is young Carlo Ancelotti. In his childhood, he looked so cute and adorable.

He has always had a cheerful personality since childhood. Carlo Ancelotti, while growing up, took after his father.

His dad, Giuseppe, was someone who was easy to get along with and notably down to earth. He gave Carlo an honest and traditional Italian upbringing.

Most of his early childhood years were spent working on the farm with his father, mother, and brother. Carlo grew up accustoming himself to hard work and discipline from his parents and teachers.

While growing up, he got disturbed by one thing. The fact that ‘Farming wasn’t sufficient to raise his family off poverty’.

This led to a turning point in his quest to decide what he would become in the future. 

The decision to be a Footballer:

From a young age, Carlo Ancelotti was driven by the desire to escape the demanding life of his parents, who toiled on their cheese farm with little reward. This ambition led him to pursue a career in football.

Reflecting on his journey, Ancelotti once said, “Football is not just a job. I grew up on a farm; football is a better life.”

It was this determination to seek a better life that propelled him from the fields of Reggiolo to the Reggiolo youth team, where he was discovered by Parma and given his big break. Thus, the dream of a country boy, who once worked the land, became a reality as he rose to prominence in the world of football.

Adapting to a Different Life:

It was a shock for young Carlo to go from the quiet, agricultural, rural town of his childhood to the loud, bustling city, all in the pursuit of football.  The future Real Madrid Boss adapted like he would do so many more times in the future.

Carlo saw himself as a young boy who was capable of living and breathing football. He was a good and patient listener and learner who took his time to watch and learn from senior players.

Carlo Ancelotti’s journey is a remarkable transformation from a nervous 15-year-old to an iconic Italian football figure. His rise began with a successful stint at Roma, where he won a Scudetto and four Coppa Italia titles. He then became part of the legendary Milan team managed by Arrigo Sacchi, which was the last squad to secure back-to-back European Cups.

Young Carlo was a big star in AC Milan back then.

A combative midfielder for Parma, AS Roma and AC Milan, he helped Roma win the 1983 Serie A title and four Italian Cups before joining AC Milan in 1986.

There, he added two more league championships, as well as back-to-back European Cup triumphs in 1989 and 1990.

In the fourth, Ancelotti starts coaching. He clinches promotion to Serie A with his Reggiana side, takes a step up to Juventus and then to AC Milan, from where he moves to Abramovich’s Chelsea before joining Al Khelaifi’s PSG. The rest, as they say, is now history.

Love Life:

Have you met Real Madrid Coach Carlo Ancelotti’s girlfriend? Perhaps no, not Luisa, his ex-wife and not Marine Cretu – his ex-girlfriend.

Ancelotti is currently dating a stunning blonde identified as Mariann Barrena McClay. Below is the stunning photo of his hot Canadian woman.

Meet Mariann Barrena McClay, the woman who holds the key to Carlo's heart.

Meet Mariann Barrena McClay, the woman who holds the key to Carlo’s heart.

She loves Carlo very much because is fun to be with. Below is a photo of them attending the Oktoberfest (Oktoberfest is the world’s largest Volksfest, which is held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany).

Mariann Barrena McClay was born in Vancouver, Canada, to María Concepción Gutiérrez and Antonio Barrena. With an impressive academic background, she holds an MBA in Marketing from Thunderbird School of Global Management, an MBA in International Business, and a PhD in Finance from Cass Business School. Additionally, she earned a BBA in Business Administration from Simon Fraser University.

Before her marriage, Mariann worked as a consultant at Barclays Bank in London. It was during this time, in 2011, that she met Carlo Ancelotti, who was then managing Chelsea. Their relationship blossomed, and they married in Vancouver in July 2014.

Aw! They look so happy, and we don’t know whose baby she is holding at that time. It was their second marriage for both of them, and Mariann has a very pretty teenage daughter, Chloe McClay.

About Luisa, Carlo Ancelotti’s Ex-Wife:

Before her, Carlo was married to his wife Luisa for over two decades. When looking at their photo below, one thing is common. Carlo surely has an eye for beautiful women.

After splitting with Luisa, he dated gal Marina Cretu, who is 13 years younger than him. Ancelotti and his ex-wife Luisa Gibellini have two children: Davide,  who is a Real Madrid fitness coach.

Just as Harry Redknapp, Steve Bruce and Zinedine Zidane have given their sons opportunities in football, Carlo Ancelotti has also done the same.

He once appointed his inexperienced son, Davide, as Bayern Munich’s assistant coach while he was at the Allianz Arena.

Carlo Ancelotti has a daughter named Katia, who is from his ex-wife. Below is a photo of lookalike Katia and her father.

Katia is his first child and daughter, born on the 18th of April, 1984. She got married in 2014 to her partner, Mino Fulco.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Personal Life:

The manager has the following attributes in his personality:

Carlo Ancelotti’s Strengths: He is gentle like Gareth Southgate, affectionate like Mauricio Pochettino, adaptable, able to learn quickly and exchange ideas

What Carlo Ancelotti likes is music, books, magazines, chatting with nearly anyone, and taking short trips around any city or town he visits.

Carlo Ancelotti dislikes Being alone, being confined, repetition and routine.

In essence, Carlo is very much fascinated by his world. He usually gets this constant feeling that there is not enough time to experience everything he wants to see.

Carlo Ancelotti Smoking Habit:

A less-known aspect of Carlo Ancelotti’s life is his habit of smoking, which he took up after retiring as a player. Though he claims it’s only occasional, it’s a persistent part of his lifestyle. Recently, “Carletto” (as his family affectionately calls him) candidly shared that he’s actively trying to quit, even as he continues to battle the habit.

His Left Eyebrow:

After a Vespa crash as a teenager, Carlo’s left eyebrow was left permanently arched. Sometimes, he arches his right eyebrow on purpose to appear symmetrical.

Carlo Ancelotti Family Life:

Carlo Ancelotti’s rise to football greatness came from humble beginnings, with his family’s financial struggles making his achievements all the more impressive. During his final season with Chelsea, he faced personal challenges as well. He frequently travelled back to Italy to be with his 87-year-old father, who was battling diabetes and other health issues.

Reflecting on this time, Ancelotti shared, “I don’t have a problem managing the team for this reason. It’s difficult, emotionally, when it’s your father… but this is life. I have to do my best to stay close to him, but this is the life.” Sadly, his father passed away on September 29, 2010, at the age of 87. Carlo also has a sister named Angela Ancelotti.

Champions League Success Story:

Carlo Ancelotti boasts five remarkable UEFA Champions League titles throughout his career. His first two came as a player with AC Milan, where he won the European Cup in back-to-back years, 1989 and 1990. As a manager, Ancelotti added two more Champions League victories with Milan in 2003 and 2007 and secured his fifth title with Real Madrid just last year.

Interestingly, in 1984, although not in the lineup on the day, Ancelotti and AS Roma came close to winning the tournament, losing in a penalty shootout to Liverpool after a 1-1 draw in the final.

Appreciation Note and Fact Check:

Thanks for reading our Carlo Ancelotti Biography. He is credited with giving many young footballers a chance to succeed. Typical among these persons are Anthony Gordon and Ben Godfrey (during their time at Everton) and Alvaro Rodríguez (Real Madrid). Kindly stay tuned for more managerial stories, as our write-up on Marcelo Bielsa and Eddie Howe will excite you.

We strive for accuracy and fairness in our delivery of Managerial football stories. If you see something that doesn’t look right in this article, please leave a comment or contact us!

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