“He’s a great coach in every sense” - Angel Di Maria names the best coach he played for, snubs Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho

Angel Di Maria named Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni as the best coach he's played for ahead of former Real Madrid coaches Carlo Ancelotti and Jose Mourinho. During an interview with ESPN Argentina, Di Maria was asked to name the top three coaches he had worked with.

The Argentine said (via AlbicelesteTalk):

"The first is Scaloni, no doubts. He’s a great coach in every sense. Because of the coaching staff he has, the connection he has with the players, and how he sets up the games. He’s perfect. He’s one of the best."

Di Maria also named former Argentina boss Alejandro Sabella as someone who had a great impact on his career.

"Then Alejandro (Sabella) is a coach who had a huge impact on me, I learned a lot from him. It’s difficult, I’ve had many coaches. Mourinho, Ancelotti... I’ve worked with so many great ones that it’s hard to choose," the Argentine explained.

During his illustrious career, Angel Di Maria represented multiple big clubs, including Real Madrid, Manchester United and Paris St-Germain (PSG).

He worked under both Ancelotti and Mourinho during his four-year-stint at the Bernabeu between 2010 and 2014. Mourinho managed Los Blancos between 2010 and 2013, while Ancelotti took over between 2013 and 2015.

---

"He invented a position for me" - When Angel Di Maria recalled working with Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid

In a July 2024 interview with L'Equipe, Angel Di Maria recalled his time with Los Blancos boss Carlo Ancelotti during his four-year stint at the Santiago Bernabeu. He also mentioned that he loved working with Jose Mourinho at the club.

The Argentine credited Ancelotti for inventing a position for him, and said (via MadridXtra):

“When I arrived at Real Madrid, there were incredible stars & I ended up playing, even when there was Benzema, Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo... I made my place in the middle alongside Modrić and Xabi Alonso.”

Di Maria continued:

"I loved working with Mourinho. When Ancelotti arrived, I had never played in a three-man midfield & he invented a position for me in his team, even though there were great players in the squad. And I ended up winning the Champions League playing in that position.”

Under Ancelotti's guidance, Angel Di Maria won the only UEFA Champions League trophy of his career at Real Madrid in the 2013-14 season. It marked Los Blancos' first UCL triumph in 12 years, bringing La Decima (tenth Champions League trophy) to the club.

The Argentine scored three goals and six assists in 11 appearances in the Champions League that season. It also marked Di Maria's last season at the Bernabeu, after which he joined Manchester United in 2014.