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and illogical explanation. It’s based on the secret of dreams: you have them without believing in them too intensely, and that relieves the pressure. At least at first. There was a time when my idol was Gene Gnocchi, to give just one example. A number 10 shirt with a comic strip printed on it. He thought with his feet and played with his head. Then my role models changed, I grew, because my progress in Italy was step by step. Put all your effort into it, and you’ll see that something will emerge. As a player, I won four Italian Cups, three Scudetti, an Italian Super Cup, two Champions Cups, two European Super Cups, and two Intercontinental Cups. As a coach, I won an Italian Cup, a Scudetto, an Italian Super Cup, two Champions Leagues, two European Super Cups, and a FIFA Club World Cup. That’s a lot, but the numbers don’t really convey the idea. Pride lies elsewhere, where emotion intervenes. You have to try it to believe. And feel it to live. A normal, wonderful narrative. Between a field and a wobbly bench, I spent my best years at A. C. Milan. So, once again, thank you. Thank you to all those, from Reggiolo to heaven, whom I met along the way: friends, enemies, teammates, coaches, players. To the teams I coached and those I might still coach. In particular, thank you to Silvio Berlusconi for letting me discover a new world and for never telling me what formation to field. And to Galliani, with just this one regret: why didn’t we ever use the informal “tu,” why weren’t we on a first-name basis? “I love you, Signore Galliani” is one thing, but “I love you Adriano, man” is much better.

THANK YOU: to the clubs that thought of me all the way from England. To Chelsea, of course, which was the first in chronological order. I will confess that, beginning at a certain point in the 2008–09 season, I watched a lot of DVDs of John Terry, Frank Lampard, and Didier Drogba. I was already the manager of the Blues, at least on paper. Just like with Real Madrid, a few seasons ago. Me and Abramovich together: things could be worse. Worse, which is something he can imagine—or actually remember, since he has already worked with His Specialness, José Mourinho …

GRACIAS: also to Florentino Pérez. As with Abramovich, whose first name is Roman, there’s a bit of Italy in his given name. Florentino. And so it is natural that he possesses the inner art. A conversation with him always has the fine flavor of ancient things. Simple things. Real Madrid fills his soul, occupies his mind, which is candid—in a word, blanca. He has always greeted me with the same phrase, which I have already mentioned: “Carlo, someday you will be my coach.” In the meantime, he now has his own original sin: he has only just begun to work with His Specialness.

DANKE: to Bayern Munich.

… the list could go on, and it could include certain other people. It’s not hard to imagine who or why. And, as I express my thanks, I raise my eyes, I go back in time, and I remember. When I was coaching in Italy, I often looked at a fire alarm at Milanello. They installed it directly over my room, Room Number 5. On it, there is a phrase in white letters on a red background, and in case of emergency it lights up: LEAVE THE BUILDING IMMEDIATELY. On certain days it was turned off out of respect and, when things were tight, out of necessity. Then Abramovich and Chelsea Football Club arrived. The Premier League and the FA Cup. Now I want the Champions League. And I’ll make a promise: if we win, there’ll be a party. And Zhirkov won’t sing.

Carlo Ancelotti

Born 1959 in Reggiolo, Reggio-Emilia

AS A PLAYER:

Parma A. C., 1974–1979

Promoted to Serie A in 1979

A. S. Roma, 1979–1987

Scudetto 1983

Coppa Italia 1980, 1981, 1984, 1986

European Cup runners-up 1984

A. C. Milan, 1987–1992

Scudetto 1988, 1992

Italian Supercup 1988

European Cup 1989, 1990

UEFA Super Cup 1989, 1990

Intercontinental Cup 1989, 1990

Italian National Team, 1981–1991

26 appearances

World Cup squads 1986, 1990

AS A MANAGER:

Italian National Team, 1994

Assistant coach to Arrigo Sacchi

Runners-up, World