Luka Modric is also celebrated in his last game at the Bernabeu. There are also special moments for Carlo Ancelotti.
Real Madrid secured a hard-fought victory in coach Carlo Ancelotti’s farewell match. The Spanish record champions won 2-0 (1-0) against Real Sociedad from San Sebastian on the last La Liga matchday, with Kylian Mbappé (38/84) scoring a brace.
However, the result faded into the background during the farewell of the coach and Luka Modric. It was more about the emotions. Both club legends left in tears.
When a video for Ancelotti was played after the final whistle, tears rolled down the departing coach’s cheek. “You shouldn’t think it’s so easy to talk today. I’ll try. It was an honor, a pleasure, to train this team. I must first thank my beloved president Florentino. It was fantastic to train this group of footballers. It was fantastic to share all these moments with you,” Ancelotti began.
The Italian added: “I can’t forget a day I’ve experienced here. I love you.”
The farewell was also emotional and tearful for Modric. When he was substituted in the 87th minute, the entire stadium rose and celebrated the Croatian. Toni Kroos also came over and hugged his former colleague. After the final whistle, the midfielder was accompanied by his wife and children and grabbed the microphone with a broken voice.
“We had wonderful moments, won many titles. But the greatest trophy I have won is your love, which you have shown me over the years. There are really no words to thank you – for all that you have given me. I want to say a sentence that I like very much: Don’t cry because it’s over, but smile because it was so beautiful,” he said.
Ancelotti ends his second term at Real after four years and will become the Brazilian national coach. His successor is expected to be the current Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, but an official confirmation is still pending.
The Real fans say goodbye to Carlo Ancelotti
The Real fans honored both Ancelotti and club legend Luka Modric before the game, who will leave the club after 13 years after the Club World Cup in the USA. The heads of the two Real icons could be seen on large banners, with “Thank you, Legend” below Modric and “Thank you, Carletto” below Ancelotti.
Ancelotti won a total of 15 titles with Real in the six seasons he worked for the club. Modric, who moved from Tottenham Hotspur to the Spanish capital in 2012, played 591 competitive games for Real and won 28 titles.