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Carlo Ancelotti confirmed as Madrid manager as Blanc joins PSG

By on June 25, 2013

Real Madrid have confrimed the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti as the succesor of Jose Mourinho, while Laurent Blanc has replaced Ancelotti at Paris Saint-Germain. Ancelotti is set to be officially presented as Madrid manager on Wednesday, having already signed a three-year contract at Madrid. The Italian was immediately linked with a move to Madrid after Jose Mourinho announced his departure from Los Blancos to join Chelsea, although PSG were reluctant to let the manager go before finding a replacement.

With recent reports claiming former France boss Laurent Blanc would replace Ancelotti at the French club, PSG were quick to sign the 47-year-old on a two year contract following confirmation of Ancelotti’s move to Madrid. Having lead Bordeaux to Ligue 1 success in 2009 and coached the French national team from 2010 to 2012, Blanc has already had much experience in management after retiring from his playing career in 2003.

A statement on PSG’s official website confirmed the arrival of Blanc, reading: “Paris Saint-Germain is delighted to announce the appointment of Laurent Blanc as coach for the next two years. He will take charge of the squad on 1 July 2013 for the start of pre-season training. The board of Paris Saint-Germain has given Laurent Blanc the mission to build on last season and to continue the club’s ascendency towards the summits of the European game.

Meanwhile, Madrid confirmed the Ancelotti’s appointment on their official website in a statement reading: “Familiar with the pressures of managing the great teams of the continent (Juventus, Milan, Chelsea and PSG) the Italian is a guarantee to direct an exciting project.”

Although having spent over 260 million euro’s in transfers since Ancelotti was appointed as PSG manager in winter 2011, the 54-year-old failed to win the silverware that the PSG owners demanded, despite sitting three points atop Ligue 1 when joining the wealthy club. Eventually losing the 2011/12 title to Montpellier, Ancelotti struggled to make the side he heavily invested in work as a until. The former Chelsea manager recovered by guiding PSG to their first Ligue 1 title in nine years last season, helping to fuel his move to Madrid.

Ancelotti’s first week’s at Madrid will likely be focused on making big-name replacements for outgoing players including Gonzalo Higuain, with signing Malaga’s highly rated starlet Isco and Napoli forward Edison Cavani both high on Madrid’s to-do list.

Blanc meanwhile will also be charged with the task of bringing in new players after jetting to Paris to sign a two-year contract at PSG. Although being unemployed since getting the sack from France in 2012 following a poor Euro 2012 showing, the former Manchester United defender will surely have some transfer targets in mind.

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.