A Spanish court on Wednesday sentenced former Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti to one year in prison for tax fraud related to undeclared income from 2014, although the 66-year-old will not be required to serve time behind bars.
The conviction stems from Ancelotti’s first tenure as manager of Real Madrid, during which Spanish prosecutors accused him of using a network of shell companies to conceal earnings—particularly from image rights—in order to avoid paying taxes. Prosecutors initially sought a sentence of four years and nine months, alleging the Italian coach failed to declare over one million euros in income between 2014 and 2015.
At his trial in April, Ancelotti denied any intentional wrongdoing, claiming he was unaware that part of his salary structure—paid via image rights—could result in lower tax obligations.
The Madrid court ruled that Ancelotti was guilty of “an offence against the treasury,” sentencing him to one year in prison and ordering him to pay a fine of €386,361 (approximately $452,821). However, because the sentence is under two years and Ancelotti has no prior criminal record, Spanish law allows him to avoid jail time.
Ancelotti, currently the head coach of Brazil’s national team and no longer residing in Spain, was cleared of similar charges related to the 2015 tax year. The court’s ruling brings a conclusion to a case that has attracted considerable public and media attention, given Ancelotti’s high-profile status and illustrious managerial career, which includes stints at Chelsea, Bayern Munich, and Paris Saint-Germain.
