Former Milan CEO Adriano Galliani reveals how he poached Carlo Ancelotti from Parma in 2001 and naturally it involved food and drink.
Ancelotti already spent several years of his playing career at Milan from 1987 until his retirement in 1992.
He then followed ex-Rossoneri boss Arrigo Sacchi as his assistant manager with the Italy squad until 1995 before breaking out by himself as a coach.
After periods with Reggiana, Parma and Juventus, he seemed set for a return to the Stadio Tardini in November 2001 until Galliani intervened.
“Ancelotti was going to Calisto Tanzi’s place to sign with Parma in 2001,” Galliani told the Corriere della Sera magazine Sette.
“At Milan, we decided to change coach, so I called Ancelotti. He told me he’d already given his word to Tanzi.
“The next morning, I went to Carlo’s house. It was the first time in my life we had breakfast consisting of Lambrusco, culatello ham, salami and Parmigiano cheese. We convinced him.”
It proved to be the right career path, because Ancelotti remained at Milan until 2009, winning the Champions League twice, the Club World Cup, one Serie A title, two European Super Cups, the Coppa Italia and the Italian Super Cup.
Ancelotti is now at Real Madrid and this season became the first coach in history to win all five major European league titles, as well as four Champions League trophies.
Galliani racconta: “Ecco come ho strappato Ancelotti al Parma nel 2001” https://t.co/PwiQ7yLn6x
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