Saturday 31 December 2011

Ancelotti Accepts PSG Offer


Former Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti has been confirmed as the new coach of Paris Saint-Germain.

The Italian, 52, was announced as manager at a news conference at the Parc des Princes stadium on Friday.

"I think I can do good work here," said Ancelotti. "We have all the conditions to succeed. I am delighted and very enthusiastic about this project."

Antoine Kombouare, who led PSG to the top of the French league, had been sacked by the club just hours earlier.

The French side released a statement 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 has been out of work since being sacked as Chelsea boss in May.

His deal with PSG has taken some time to put together, complicated by the fact that 48-year-old Kombouare was not sacked by the club until Friday.

Although Kombouare led PSG to the top of the Ligue 1 table at the winter break, he also oversaw their exit from the Europa League group stage.

The club's Qatari owners have lofty ambitions and are keen to bring high-profile names to the French capital.

Former AC Milan boss Ancelotti could be joined shortly by David Beckham, whom he coached briefly at the Italian club during the former England captain's first loan spell at the San Siro.

PSG are hoping to complete a deal to sign the former England skipper once his contract with Los Angeles Galaxy expires at the end of December.

However, BBC Sport understands Beckham is leaning towards staying in the US with LA Galaxy.

Ancelotti won a league and cup double with Chelsea in his first season in charge before he was sacked at the end of last season despite finishing second in the Premier League.

The Italian was also a two-time Champions League winner during his decade-long spell at Milan.

Qatar Sports Investments bought PSG last summer and their president, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, promised "to make the club a great team and a strong brand on the international scene".

They promptly spent £71.3m to attract new talent, including paying £35.2m to Italian side Palermo for 22-year-old midfielder Javier Pastore.

HONOURS
(As a player)
European Cup (2), Uefa Super Cup (2), Intercontinental Cup (2), Serie A (3), Coppa Italia (4), Supercoppa Italiana

(As a manager)
Champions League (2), Uefa Super Cup (2), Fifa Club World Cup, Serie A, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, Premier League, FA Cup, Community Shield