On June 1, Real Madrid officially announced the return of Carlo Ancelotti to the club as head coach. This isn’t the first time that a coach has returned to the club for a second period in charge, with most historically enjoying a successful second spell in the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu dugout.
We’ve taken a look at the fortunes of those who came back to the Spanish capital for a second go in charge.
Jacinto Quincoces
Quincoces was a success as a player at Real Madrid and the ex-defender went on to coach Los Blancos in the 1945/46 season, winning the Copa del Rey during that campaign.
He wasn’t offered a renewal the following season, but did return for the 1947/48 campaign. Yet he was sacked halfway through the year following a dispute with the club.
He was also the first coach to sit in the dugout at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, which was inaugurated in December 1947.
Baltasar Albeniz
He won the Copa in his first year in 1947 and was sacked halfway through his second (1950/51).
He did enjoy a long coaching career, however, and took over the Spanish national side after his second spell at Real Madrid.
Luis Carniglia
The Argentine was forced to cut his first period at the club short due to health problems after winning the league and European Cup double in his first season (1957/58).
He left the job the following season, only to return before the end of the campaign to guide his side to the European Cup final, which they won against Stade de Reims in Stuttgart.
Luis Molowny
A legend on the pitch, Molowny took charge of Real Madrid on four occasions, all of which were emergencies, and he won silverware each time.
As coach, he lifted the league title three times, the Copa del Rey twice, the UEFA Cup twice and one Copa de la Liga. He had an impressive record of eight titles in 180 matches.
Alfredo Di Stefano
The club legend returned as head coach in 1982 and his first season went down as the most frustrating in Real Madrid‘s history as they finished runners-up in the league, the Copa del Rey, the Copa de la Liga, the Supercopa and the Cup Winners’ Cup.
His second season saw the club even further off silverware and saw the second trophyless season in a row.
He returned as interim coach in the 1990/91 season, though, and finally won something as his side won the Supercopa against Barcelona.
Leo Beenhakker
He won three league titles between 1986 and 1989, but was shown the door after a 5-0 defeat against Ancelotti‘s AC Milan.
He was recalled in the 1991/92 season to try and revive a side who were faltering in the league, but was sacked after a disastrous performance against Tenerife.
John Toshack
He inherited a great side that won the 1989/90 league with a record numbers of goals scored (107) – a record which stood until the 2010/11 campaign.
He returned in 1998/99, but was sacked after a controversial interview with MARCA.
Vicente del Bosque
He had three spells at the club, with the first coming in 1994 when he took over as caretaker after the sacking of Benito Floro. He also took charge for two games in 1996 after the sacking of Jorge Valdano.
After the Toshack episode, he took over in 1999/00 and guided the club to their eighth European Cup with victory over Valencia in Paris.
He stayed in the job after Florentino Perez was elected president and won one more Champions League, the Supercopa de Espana, the UEFA Super Cup and the Club World Cup.
In 2003 he won his second league title, but was let go a day later – something that still doesn’t sit right with the Real Madrid support to this day.
Fabio Capello
He had two seasons and won two titles (1996/97 and 2006/07).
He returned to AC Milan after the first year, but did put in the foundations for the club’s seventh European Cup in 1998. Then he came back a decade later to enjoy some more success in the Spanish capital.
Zinedine Zidane
He is the club’s greatest modern-day coach. He arrived in 2016 following the departure of Rafael Benitez and the rest is history, as he won three Champions Leagues, one LaLiga Santander, two Club World Cups, two UEFA Super Cups and one Supercopa de Espana.
He left after the club’s 13th European Cup and returned a few months later to win LaLiga Santander and the Supercopa. Last season was his only one without silverware.
Carlo Ancelotti
He was in charge for two seasona the first time around, winning four titles. Now, he has returned in 2021 looking to bring success back to the club.
