Carlo Ancelotti: Managerial shape-shifting genius spanning eras from Ariggo Sacchi to Pep Guardiola, who has won everything in club football multiple times

There is an anecdote that captures the soul of Carlo Ancelotti’s managerial style. His AC Milan squad was so richly gifted with midfielders that he once called Andrea Pirlo, Clarence Seedorf, Kaká and Rui Costa to a corner of the ground, talked personally to each, and told them collectively: “You have to work it out. Or one of you will be on the bench every game.”

This was the genesis of the sumptuous midfield quartet that collected two Champions Leagues titles in four years and lost another in the most dramatic of finals. When fit, none sat out and they became a formidably creative group in one of the greatest teams ever.

Some could argue that Ancelotti gave so much autonomy to his players that he almost pampered them. There is another often cited incident wherein, during a Champions League semifinal between his Real Madrid and Pep Guardiola’s Bayern Munich, he was spotted asking Toni Kroos and Marcelo on the bench as to which substitutes he should bring on.

He once explained his reasoning in an interview with The Guardian: “A coach has to be close to players, understand them. You have an idea of the game, but they’re the ones playing. If the relationship is good, they will understand clearly; if it’s not good, that becomes harder.”

This simple philosophy, of the player as the centre of the footballing universe, individual sparks bigger than systems and structures, has brought resounding success. Ancelotti is the only manager who has won titles in all of Europe’s top five leagues; no one has held the massive ears of the Champions League trophy as often as he has either. The 64-year-old, monikered The Don, is the link between the eras of Arrigo Sacchi and Pep Guadiola, two football radicals who redefined the game; he has