Carlo Ancelotti says that he is in no hurry to end his coaching career.
Carlo Ancelotti says that he is in no hurry to end his coaching career.

Ancelotti: ‘I can keep working for another fifteen years’

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In a series of interviews with French media, Carlo Ancelotti has spoken about taking over from Pep Guardiola at FC Bayern München, the renaissance of Franck Ribery, the emergence of Kingsley Coman, and the fact that he is in no hurry to end his coaching career. In the second of our two-part series, bundesliga.com takes a closer look...

Haven’t read part 1 yet? Click here!

Carlo Ancelotti insists that his coaching career could last for “another fifteen years”, as the Italian prepares to lead Bayern into battle against Club Atlético de Madrid on Wednesday.

The Bavarians will be counting on another strong performance from the in-form Franck Ribery at the Estadio Vicente Calderon, but the 33-year-old isn’t the only talented Frenchman Ancelotti has at his disposal. The technician has also been reunited with exciting young winger Kingsley Coman, a player he gave his first professional start for Paris Saint-Germain in February 2013.

“When I saw him for the first time, he was 15,” Ancelotti reminisced. “And I had never seen a player as good as that. Now he's more mature. He's no longer a young boy, but a professional player with a lot of qualities and potential.”

- © gettyimages / Joen Pollex

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After a breakout season under Guardiola, 20-year-old Coman will be determined to give the more experienced Ribery some competition on the wings, while Arjen Robben will also be vying for a starting place. The flying Dutchman – another man whose 2015/16 season was plagued by injury – made an emotional Bundesliga return against Hertha Berlin, his first appearance in six months, and scored mere minutes after coming off the bench.  

With his experience, and such a wealth of attacking talent at his disposal, it’s perhaps no surprise that Ancelotti has settled in so seamlessly at Bayern, which he described as “a top club”.

“Bayern has a great history, great tradition, great culture, just like Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Barcelona. You don't have problems coaching here. It's a very stable club.”

Ancelotti is also impressed with some of his fellow coaches in the Bundesliga. “Thomas Tuchel, at Dortmund, has managed to get his team playing with a very good intensity,” he observed. “There are many talented young coaches in the Bundesliga, like the Schalke coach [Markus Weinzierl].”

- © gettyimages / Lukas Schulze

The future looks bright for Ancelotti, then, as he attempts to guide the Bavarians to a fifth straight Bundesliga title this season, and a sixth UEFA Champions League crown. Whether he succeeds or not, he is certainly in no hurry to stop coaching. 

“I’m not tired,” he insisted. “I like my job and I think I can keep working for another fifteen years. For me, coaching is not a stressful profession. Football is a game.”

Watch: Check out how Bayern warmed up for Atletico with a win away to Hamburger SV on Saturday:

Andy Smith