Real Madrid Bayern coach admits to being a Madridista

Having coached at some of the top teams in the world, Carlo Ancelotti says that being at the helm at Real Madrid trumps them all.

The Italian is the new coach at German giants Bayern Munich having taking a year away from football following his sacking from Real, but doesn't appear to harbour any grudges.

Speaking to MARCA, the Italian admitted coaching at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu was one of the best experiences in his career and, despite the pressure that comes with the role, would recommend it to anyone.

"Experience tells me that every self-respecting coach should coach Real Madrid at some point in their life," he said, adding that it is "the greatest thing on earth.

"It is a very nice, almost unique experience; what happens in Madrid does not happen in any other team."

Carlo is a Milanista first and foremost, having won two Champions League trophies at the Serie A team, plus league titles at Chelsea and PSG.

But he holds a special place in his heart for the Spanish club.

"I have as much affection for Madrid as I do for AC Milan -- I'm a Madridista," he said.

Ancelotti keeps a photograph of his finest hour at the club in his office: winning La Decima in 2014, a fond memory to say the least.

"I really like what it represents.

"La Decima is one of my best memories of my career, it's up there with my first [Champions League medal] for Milan -- they have the same value."

Following his two year spell at Los Blancos, Ancelotti took a sabbatical from coaching for the first time in his career to live in Canada for a while, and finds himself refreshed after the time away.

"After twenty years I think it was time [to take a break]," he said, but there's also the fact that the Italian required surgery on his back and two or three months recovery time as a result, ruling out the possibility of taking the reins at West Ham or a return to the San Siro, although he admits it "wasn't the right time" to return to AC anyway.

So now that the three time European champion is finally back in football, what does he make of his new surroundings?

"[Bayern Munich is] a big club with a lot of history, it's well organised, with a president who is a former player.

"The spine of the team is very clear -- Neuer, Lahm, Muller -- players who are familiar to the club and have been together a long time."

Pep Guardiola is as tough an act to follow as there is, but Carlo appears to embrace the challenge, and even seems to think it will make his job easier.

"The team has tremendous quality in possession and in transition, very aggressive with the ball.

"When I arrived I said I was not going to make a revolution, because there was no need.

"They are very competitive and you just need to think of something else to try and take that step in the Champions League."

If Ancelotti were to achieve that and win an unprecedented fourth Champions League medal in his career, it would surely make him one of the greatest coaches of all time, if not the greatest.