Real Madrid and Ancelotti Make History in Paris

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There was a lot of talk in the final weeks of the season about a Liverpool quadruple. The Reds could have made history by winning the English League Cup, FA Cup, Premier League, and the Champions League.

That dream died when Manchester City mounted an incredible comeback to win the Premier League title on the final day of the season. The treble was still on the cards going into the final of the Champions League but that also slipped away as Real Madrid recorded a 1-0 win in Paris.

Liverpool will have to try again next season but for Real Madrid, history was made as they secured their 14th European title. It was the first time the Spanish giants won the Champions League since 2017/18, when they again beat Liverpool in the final.

You must go back to 1955/56 to find the first time Real Madrid won the Champions League, or European Cup as it was known back then.

However, there was a gap of over 30 years between the 1960s and 1990s when Real Madrid failed to get their hands on the trophy. Since the turn of the century, Real Madrid have won the Champions League 7 times.

AC Milan are the second most successful team in the history of the Champions League but they are some way behind Real Madrid’s 14 titles, with 7 to their name. Liverpool had the opportunity to move level with AC Milan but failed to find the back of the net in Paris.

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti made history in many ways as he took Real Madrid to their 14th Champions League win.

The Italian manager appeared in his 5th final as a manager and that saw him surpass Marcello Lippi, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Miguel Munoz for Champions League final managerial appearances.

With Real Madrid winning the 2021/22 Champions League, Ancelotti became the first manager to win the tournament 4 times, taking him above Zinedine Zidane and Bob Paisley, who both have 3 to their name.

It is an incredible feat and Ancelotti will return next season when he aims to go one better and win the Champions League for a 5th time as a manager.

In terms of players, Francisco Gento is the only man to win the Champions League on 6 occasions, doing so with Real Madrid in the 1950s and 60s.

However, several of the current Real Madrid setup have now won the Champions League 5 times, with Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, Dani Carvajal, Casemiro, Isco, Marcelo, Luka Modrić, Nacho, and Toni Kroos all picking up their 5th winners medal at the Stade de France.

They join the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Paolo Maldini, and Alfredo Di Stéfano with 5 Champions League titles to their name.

It was a record breaking night for Real Madrid in the French capital and they will be hoping to retain their trophy and extend their European dominance next season.