Ballon d’Or: Absent Ancelotti Wins Coach Of The Year Award

By : James Agberebi

Date: 29 October 2024 12:52am WAT

Real Madrid's Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti gives a press conference on the eve of their Spanish League football match against FC Barcelona, at the Ciudad Real Madrid training complex in Valdebebas, outskirts of Madrid, on October 15, 2022. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU / AFP)

Carlo Ancelotti was named Men’s Coach of the Year at Ballon d’Or 2024

This year saw the coaching awards presented for the first time, with Ancelotti crowned the inaugural winner after an exceptional 2023/24 campaign with Madrid.

Ancelotti led Madrid to La Liga success before winning the Champions League for a fifth time as a manager.

However, the Italian was not at the ceremony to claim his prize, with Madrid’s representatives having boycotted the gala entirely after reportedly learning that Rodri would be awarded the Ballon d’Or instead of superstar winger Vinicius Junior.

Also summer signing Kylian Mbappe was also absent despite winning the Gerd Muller Trophy alongside Bayern Munich forward Harry Kane for most goals scored throughout the 2023/24 campaign.

Ancelotti saw off competition from five other nominees, including three Spanish coaches. Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso, Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola and Spain national team boss Luis de la Fuente and Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni and Atalanta’s Gian Piero Gasperini to claim the award.