Steve McManaman: 'Carlo Ancelotti is ideal for Real Madrid'

Former Real Madrid winger Steve McManaman has backed calls for Carlo Ancelotti to take over as the club's coach.

The Paris Saint-Germain boss has been linked with a switch to Madrid after reports suggested that Jose Mourinho will leave for Chelsea, and McManaman, who played for the club between 1999 and 2003, feels that the Italian would be an ideal fit at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"I think Ancelotti will certainly bring a calmer attitude around the ground and the training ground and certainly with the press," McManaman is quoted as saying in The Mirror.

"He's very well respected, very well liked, and his CV is second to none. I think the fact that Real Madrid have tried to get his services on board early on speaks volumes about what kind of person they're trying to bring in to the club."

Ancelotti led PSG to the Ligue 1 title last season.