Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain have unveiled a new coach for the new year, with former AC Milan and Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti now in charge of the capital city club.
The Italian, who has also coached Reggiana, Parma, and Juventus, was announced to the French media on 30 December, reportedly just one hour after former holder of the position Antoine Kombouare quit after having the news confirmed to him, which had been a behind-the-scenes deal that was on-going for several weeks.
The reasoning behind the change in PSG’s hot-seat by their wealthy Qatari owners is said to be the club’s elimination from the UEFA Europa League and the Coupe de la Ligue, despite holding a 3-point lead over 2nd-place Montpellier in the French top flight. Another reason given is thought to be the owner’s desire for a big-name coach, with the unattached Italian fitting the bill.
Ancelotti said of his appointment: “I think I can do good work here. We have all the conditions to succeed. I am delighted and very enthusiastic about this project.”
The club then went on to issue a statement on Koubouare, saying: “After two years in which he served with passion as PSG coach, Antoine Kombouare has left as of this date. PSG would like to thank him for the professionalism he has shown throughout his work and expresses its best wishes for his success in his new endeavours. For his part, Antoine Kombouare expressed gratitude to PSG for the confidence it had shown in him over the years. He remains the biggest supporter of the club and will continue to support it in the coming years.”
Ancelotti’s first game in charge will be a friendly competition in the form of the Dubai Football Challenge, ironically against AC Milan tomorrow, followed by a location much more humble than Dubai (UAE) when they play away to 5th-tier Saint-Colomban Locmine in the Coupe de France on Sunday. PSG’s first league match of the new year (and Ancelotti’s first home game) will come against Toulouse on 14 January.
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