Carlo Ancelotti UEFA Champions League Coach

The Early Years

Coach Carlo Ancelotti of AC Milan looks during the UEFA Champions League Group D match between Benfica and AC Milan at the Luz Stadium on November 28, 2007 in Lisbon, Portugal

Unlike many of the other great UEFA Champions League coaches, Carlo Ancelotti has the distinction of having won the Champions League as both a player and a coach. Ancelotti won the Champions League playing as a midfielder for AC Milan in 1989 and 1990 and also represented his country on 26 occasions.

Coaching Career

Carlo Ancelotti began his coaching career three years after retiring from professional football. His first post was as coach of Serie B club Reggiana, whom he guided to Serie A promotion in his first season in charge. Ancelotti's achievements did not escape the attentions of Parma, who were quick to sign up the gifted young coach.

The UEFA Champions League coach spent three years at Parma building his reputation as a top level coach, coaching Parma to the UEFA Cup title 1999. With a major title to his credit Ancelotti found his coaching services much in demand, and was lured to rival Serie A team Juventus the following season.

Unable to forge a strong winning team at Juventus, Ancelotti endured a fallow period at the club that saw him fail to claim a single piece of silverware. However, his efforts did see Juventus finish runners-up in both seasons under his management, and this was sufficient to earn him a call up for the vacant coaching position at AC Milan for the 2001/2002 season.

UEFA Champions League Coach

In 2001 Carlo Ancelotti inherited an AC Milan team playing below their considerable potential. In Ancelotti's first season in charge AC Milan qualified for the UEFA Cup semi-finals, eventually finishing the tournament in third place.

The following season saw Ancelotti's charges go all the way in the UEFA Champions League as they beat rivals Juventus on penalties in the final. The UEFA Champions League coach's third season at the helm saw AC Milan recapture the domestic league and cup.

In an incredible effort AC Milan advanced to the Champions League finals again in 2005, conceding the game only after a miraculous Liverpool comeback.

After a one-year absence from the finals Carlo Ancelotti's team had a chance to avenge their defeat against the Reds in the 2007 Champions League final in Athens. The Italian side put Liverpool away with style, with Fillipo Inzaghi scoring twice to hand his UEFA Champions League coach a second European Cup in less than five years.