Carlo Ancelotti’s name has long been tied to silverware. With five Champions League titles, three FIFA Club World Cup wins, and five UEFA Super Cups, his record is one for the ages.
In July 2025, though, headlines took a turn. He was sentenced to a year in prison after being found guilty in a tax fraud case.
His wife Mariann, a consultant and businesswoman, remained by his side. So did his children.
Here’s a closer look at Ancelotti’s current marriage to Mariann, his life with his late first wife, and the family that has been with him through it all.
Who Is Mariann Barrena McClay?
McClay was born in Vancouver, but her roots trace back to Spain. Her parents, Antonio and María Concepción, moved from their home country in search of a different life and settled in Canada, where they raised their daughter.
She later moved abroad for school, earning an MBA in International Business from Thunderbird in the U.S., then another in finance from Cass Business School in London. Later, she completed a PhD in the same field.
Barrena built her expertise in behavioral finance and investment psychology, digging into how people approach money, risk, and strategy.
She spent years working as a consultant, handling projects with major financial groups like Barclays Bank and the British Swiss Corporation. Her experience includes working directly with FTSE 100 banking clients, focusing on business development and strategic communication. She’s worked with stocks, hedge funds, indices, and even collectible investments.
Back in the early ‘90s, she also launched Mondo Uomo Fine Menswear, a luxury brand that specialized in tailored suits and upscale men’s clothing.
Today, she lists herself as a self-employed communications manager.
How Did They Meet?
Mariann and Carlo crossed paths in 2011 while she was working at a hedge fund called Elseworthy. Their first meeting happened at a London restaurant that same year, back when Ancelotti was still managing Chelsea and already preparing for his move to PSG.
Mariann was dining with someone else when he approached her table. “I was on a date, having dinner with a gentleman. Before leaving, Carlo came in to say goodbye and said to me in Italian, which of course my table companion couldn’t understand, ‘You’ll be my fiancée one day.’ I burst out laughing and replied in the same language: ‘Sure, next time I’ll bring the ring,’” she told Vanity Fair Spain.
Their Wedding
They tied the knot on July 5, 2014, in Vancouver. The ceremony was small and private—no club executives, no Real Madrid faces—just close family.
Both brought children from previous relationships. Carlo’s kids, Katia and Davide, were there. So was Mariann’s daughter, Chloe, from her first marriage to a Canadian mining executive.
Ancelotti once said the relationship moved fast because their children got along from the beginning. When asked what he liked most about Mariann, he said? “She was beautiful, very intelligent, and calm—like me,” he said. “Women tend to pressure you, but she doesn’t.”
First Wife, Luisa Gibellini
Before Mariann, Ancelotti was married to Luisa Gibellini for 25 years. They had known each other since childhood and stayed together until their separation in 2008.
In 2021, Luisa passed away in Italy at the age of 63. When her condition worsened, Carlo flew back from abroad to be with her in her final hours.
She had a deep love for sports, especially football, tennis, and softball.
In 1999, she also became a certified helicopter pilot.
Carlo Ancelotti’s Children: Son Davide Is Also a Football Coach
Carlo has two children from his first marriage—Katia and Davide.
Katia studied Communications and worked at Chelsea TV during her father’s time at the club. These days, she’s based in Milan, where she runs a fitness gym.
Davide followed closely in his father’s footsteps. After a short playing career as a midfielder for AC Milan, he moved into coaching. He’s now the head coach of Botafogo, a top-tier club in Brazil. Over the years, he served as an assistant manager at Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, Real Madrid, and even with Brazil’s national team.
Between the two, Carlo now has four grandchildren. Katia and her husband, Mino Fulco, have two sons—Alessandro and Andrea. Davide and his wife are parents to twin boys, Lucas and Leonardo.
