Carlo Ancelotti sacked by Real Madrid chief Florentino Perez after fruitless year

Carlo Ancelotti has been sacked by Real Madrid president Florentino Perez. 

The Italian manager failed to lead Los Blancos to the La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey titles and thus the axe has fallen.

Ancelotti is the coach who led Real Madrid to La Decima --the side's 10th European Cup-- last season, also winning the Copa del Rey, the Club World Cup and the Super Cup, but that wasn't enough to save him.

Real Madrid's board met for several hours to discuss Ancelotti's fate on Monday, but eventually decided to let him go.

That is despite a show of support in recent days by both Real Madrid players and fans.

Cristiano Ronaldo posted a picture with the coach on social media, with a message which expressed his desire for Ancelotti to continue at the club next season.

Rafa Benitez is favourite to be appointed in Ancelotti's place, with Unai Emery an outside shot.

Ancelotti is the president's ninth victim in 12 years. Before him, Vicente Del Bosque, Carlos Queiroz, Camacho, García-Remón, Luxemburgo, López Caro, Manuel Pellegrini and Jose Mourinho fell. In the case of Mourinho it was a mutual decision to part ways, and Camacho quit.

Perez spoke in front of the media on Monday night to confirm the news, saying that it was a difficult decision to replace Ancelotti and that the club hoped to have a new, Spanish speaking coach by next week.