With 4 Champions Leagues under his belt, Carlo Ancelotti’s qualities as a coach do not need much elucidation. A fantastic tactician, the Real Madrid boss is also a father figure to many of his players. His empathy and impressive man-management skills stem from deep familial connections. Soccer fans know quite well his son David Ancelotti, who is the assistant coach of Real Madrid. Yet, Carlo recently piqued the interest of many as he detailed his first meeting with his wife Mariann Barrena McClay.
Carlo Ancelotti said, “The first time I saw my wife I told her: ‘You’re going to call me crazy, but you and I are getting married.” Yet, how did things take off from there? Let’s take a deep dive into the personal life of this generation’s most successful soccer coach.
All the facts and details regarding Mariann Barrena McClay, Carlo Ancelotti’s entrepreneur wife
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Carlo Ancelotti’s time at Chelsea was not his most successful stint. Yet, this marked the beginning of a great personal chapter for the Italian boss. As per Mundo Sportivo, Carlo met Mariann at a restaurant in London. It was love at first sight and Carlo approached her and said that she would be his fiancee one day. McClay replied, “Sure, I will bring the ring next time.” Soon, courtship followed and 3 years later, the lovebirds tied the knot in July 2014 in Vancouver, Canada.
Mariann has 2 MBA degrees and a PhD in finance as well. In 1992, she founded Mondo Uomo Fine Menswear, a luxury menswear brand that offers tailored suits, casual wear, and more. She has a biological child from her previous marriage, Chloe McClay, and two in her marriage with Carlo Ancelotti.
Carlo’s son Davide is a former professional soccer player himself. Like his father, Davide has transitioned into coaching and has assisted Carlo since his Bayern Munich stint. He is married to Ana Galocha and the couple has twin boys-Lucas and Leo.
Davide’s elder sister Katia graduated in Communications and has worked on Chelsea TV. Currently, Katia has opened a gym in Milan. On the personal front, she has two sons, Alessandro and Andrea in her marriage with Mino Fulco. Katia and Davide are the children of Carlo Ancelotti’s marriage with Luisa Gibellini. Unfortunately, Luisa passed away in 2021, leaving Carlo heartbroken.
What happened to Luisa Gibellini?
Luisa Gibellini was the childhood sweetheart of the Real Madrid boss and they got married in 1983. Their relationship lasted for a long time before splitting in 2008. Unlike, Mariann, Luisa had a keen interest in sports, especially soccer, and tennis. Moreover, she was also a qualified helicopter pilot. In fact, she used to fly Carlo Ancelotti back home after matches while back in Italy.
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She suffered from long-term illness and in 2021, news broke out that her condition worsened. Upon hearing this, the veteran manager flew back to Italy to see Luisa. Unfortunately, Luisa died at the age of 63 and Carlo was left in immense grief.
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Having experienced the highest of highs, and some bitter lows, Carlo Ancelotti has seen it all in life. As he walks into another Champions League final, the Italian will leave no stone untouched to leave his family and fans proud.