Real Madrid Ends An Era With Farewells To Iconic Figures

Forbes

25-05-2025

Ancelotti and Modrić said goobye to the Bernabéu on Saturday.
A 2-0 victory over Real Sociedad in which Kylian Mbappé got one hand on the Pichihi award for La Liga's top goalscorer was about as much as Real Madrid supporters could have hoped for on Saturday, but their season came to an end with two emotional farewells.
Officially, only coach Carlo Ancelotti and midfielder Luka Modrić have confirmed that they will not be returning to the Bernabéu again in the colors of Real Madrid, but it's also expected that right-back Lucas Vázquez could join them.
As such, it was the Italian and the Croatian who addressed the Bernabéu to say goodbye, with over 900 games at the club between them. The speeches drew tears from club president Florentino Pérez in the stands in a rare show of emotion.
Both were handed the microphone in the traditional end of season address from the team's coach and captain. Whereas they would typically look back on the successes of the past season, they were focused here on thanking fans, teammates and staff for years of memories together.
Ending with Ancelotti being thrown up into the air by his players, and former teammate Toni Kroos emerging to embrace the pair, there was a real celebration of all that two of the most decorated men in Real Madrid history as they ended an era at the Bernabéu.
'It has been an honour and a pleasure to coach this club, this team. I want to thank, first of all, my dear president Florentino. It has been fantastic to coach this group of footballers of extraordinary quality. It has been fantastic to share all these moments with you. It has been extraordinary to live this story with you. It has been an extraordinary story because nobody can forget Karim's three goals against PSG, or Rodrygo's two against Manchester City, or Luka's pass against Chelsea, or Joselu's two goals [against Bayern Munich]. I can't forget every day I've spent here either. I'll end with a Hala Madrid and nothing more! I love you very much.'
'The moment I never wanted to come has arrived. It has been a long but wonderful journey. First, I wanted to thank the club, the president Florentino Pérez. I wanted to thank all the coaches I have had during all these years, my teammates who accompanied me on this journey and all the people who helped me during all this time. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. My family too, without them all this would not be possible. It is difficult, but good. In the end we have won a lot, we have had wonderful moments, we have won many trophies but the biggest trophy is your affection, your love, that you have given me all these years. There are no words, really, to thank you for everything you have given me over the years. At the end I want to say a phrase that I have seen and that I like a lot: don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened. Hala Madrid y nada más!'