Ancelotti’s best – no room for Maldini and Zidane?

Few coaches in football history can boast a resume like Carlo Ancelotti’s. The Italian strategist has worked with some of the sport’s brightest stars across Europe’s grandest stages – Milan, Madrid, Munich, London, Paris. Today, at 66, and in charge of Brazil’s national team, he reflects on a career built alongside household names and footballing legends.

In a recent conversation with ESPN, Ancelotti was asked to single out the best of the best. His response brought no real shocks, but plenty of glittering quality: "Ronaldo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Kroos, Modric, Vinicius Jr., and Drogba," he listed.

What stands out is how much Real Madrid shaped that selection. Four of the names—Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Toni Kroos, and Vinicius Jr.—all played under him at the Bernabeu during his two spells (2013–15 and 2021–25).

Kaka and Ronaldo belonged to the AC Milan chapter, with Kaka winning the Ballon d’Or in 2007 under Ancelotti’s stewardship. Didier Drogba, meanwhile, lifted the Premier League and FA Cup double with him at Chelsea.

Yet, some illustrious figures didn’t make the cut. Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Zinedine Zidane, for instance, both played under Ancelotti but were overlooked. Defenders also went missing entirely, despite his work with Paolo Maldini, Cafu, John Terry, Sergio Ramos, and Thiago Silva.

Silva, at 40, could actually return to the Selecao setup. Brazilian media report that Ancelotti has reopened communication with his former Milan and PSG player. The coach himself made his stance clear: "When I make decisions, I don't look at the ID. If I think Thiago Silva is better than someone else, then I don't see a problem."

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The only notable gap on his superstar list? His Bayern Munich era. Between 2016 and 2017, Ancelotti succeeded Pep Guardiola but managed “just” the Bundesliga title in 2017 and a pair of Supercups. After his dismissal in September 2017, no Bayern player seems to have left a mark strong enough to reach his all-time lineup.