Carlo Ancelotti and Luka Modric bid farewell to the Santiago Bernabeu on the final day of the season – a day that also brings the curtain down on Imanol Alguacil’s tenure at Real Sociedad.
They depart quietly, respecting the club’s decisions and showing gratitude for years of glory. It’s typical of both Ancelotti and Modric – gentlemen without the need for suits or ties.
The Bernabeu waves goodbye to two of its legends, confirming the end of an era. An era shared by the Italian and the Croatian, which began its conclusion with Toni Kroos’s departure a season ago. This final chapter will serve as the prologue to a new story, one that begins with the Club World Cup.
A remarkable 275 matches together. Ancelotti is the coach who has managed Modric the most in his career. Sunday’s fixture against Real Sociedad will bring the total to 276, far surpassing Zidane (202), Redknapp (151) and Dalic (86) on the international stage.
Together they have celebrated, enjoyed, and won much. They will showcase Ancelotti’s 15 trophies on the Bernabeu turf, saying goodbye to a coach who, despite facing criticism – particularly in recent months – has triumphed at the club. No one has won more than him.
Time has acted like an hourglass for a golden Madrid era, one that began to lose its pieces when Cristiano Ronaldo left in 2018. Since then, the process has been slow – yet painful, at least for the purists.
Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Varane, Casemiro, Karim Benzema, Nacho, and Toni Kroos have all bid farewell in recent years. “Only Carvajal remains,” Ancelotti quipped in his final press conference, half in jest. But it’s true. An era is ending.
Luka Modric will play his final match at the Bernabeu just shy of 40 years old. Clearly no longer at his peak, but still delivering the high standards that have earned him a valued role over the past two seasons.
His body has held up, thanks in part to his meticulous care – he has avoided injuries all season. Yet, despite his desire to stay another year and aim for the 2026 World Cup, he has accepted the club’s decision. He leaves with 590 appearances and 28 trophies to his name.
Ancelotti has already experienced a farewell from Madrid after his first spell ended in 2015, but this departure is far more special and bittersweet. He has lived and enjoyed much more in this second chapter, adding further silverware to his collection.
Though he will take charge of the Brazilian national team, he has made it clear that he likely won’t return to club management. Madrid would be his last stop as he hinted in his pre-match press conference ahead of the league clash with Real Sociedad.
Their departures will not be the last. Although Imanol Alguacil had his farewell before his home fans at the Reale Arena last week, this will be his final match in charge of Real Sociedad, having announced he will step down at the end of the season.
While Ancelotti will leave with 353 games as Madrid boss, Imanol will bow out with 339. His departure also marks the end of a cycle, a project, and a generational model that returned Real Sociedad to the elite.
He has delivered Champions League football, a Copa del Rey, and established the Basque side as a regular in the upper echelons of La Liga, consistently competing for European spots.
He may play a supporting role at the Bernabeu, but the competition bids farewell to another significant figure of recent years.