Stockport County’s Andy Mangan is set to join Carlo Ancelotti’s coaching staff at Real Madrid.
Mangan, who has been working as an assistant coach at Stockport since July, has been chosen due to his close relationship with Ancelotti’s son, Davide, who is an assistant manager at Madrid.
Carlo and Davide Ancelotti are understood to have been looking for an English coach with experience in the English Football League (EFL), and Mangan was a trusted figure Davide recommended to his father. It’s also understood that Davide plans to take Mangan with him when he embarks on his own managerial career, much like he did with Francesco Mauri.
He is currently waiting for his work permit and no date has been set for their incorporation, but should everything go according to plan, the 38-year-old will move to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Mangan’s arrival is, at Ancelotti’s request, part of Madrid’s broader effort to refresh their coaching set-up after three seasons of stability under manager Ancelotti.
Mangan (middle) is set to join Madrid’s coaching staff (Pete Norton/Getty Images)
A stalwart of the EFL and National League, Mangan made more than 300 appearances across England’s third, fourth, and fifth tiers in his playing career, representing the likes of Fleetwood Town, Wrexham and Tranmere Rovers.
His coaching career has taken him through a number of English clubs. He joined Fleetwood’s first-team coaching staff in 2019 before following Joey Barton to Bristol Rovers in 2021, where he took on the role of first-team coach. Mangan also had a brief stint as caretaker manager at Bristol Rovers in late 2023, before joining Stockport as an assistant coach.
At Stockport, Mangan has focused on developing the team’s attackers and has been credited with playing a key role in their rise to the top of the League One table.
Madrid, meanwhile, are second in La Liga and face Real Sociedad on September 14 after the international break.
Stockport have been contacted for comment.
Why are Madrid hiring an EFL coach?
This addition is less about a club decision and more a direct response to Carlo Ancelotti’s request, which faced delays but is now set to materialise.
The driving force behind it is not just Carlo, but also his son and assistant coach, Davide Ancelotti, whose growing influence at the club is highly valued by the board. They particularly appreciate the modern approach Davide brings to his father’s management style.
In today’s highly competitive football world, where specialisation is increasingly important, both Carlo and Davide have been seeking ways to upgrade their coaching resources. Mangan, who completed his coaching course alongside Davide, aligns perfectly with this vision due to his youth and approach to the game.
The Ancelottis’ interest in specialisation grew during their time in England, where they were impressed by the sheer number of specialists available for nearly every aspect of the game. While Ancelotti acknowledges that Madrid’s staff will never be as extensive as those in the Premier League, he is pleased to be adding someone who can enhance his coaching team.
(Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
