Terrible news. Giuseppe Ancelotti, father of Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, passed away Thursday night in Italy at age 87. His son was by his side.
Thoughts no doubt with his father.
A statement on the club's official website reads: "Everyone at Chelsea Football Club sends our deepest condolences to Carlo and his family. They are all in our thoughts at this time."
The Chelsea Offside would also like to extend its most heartfelt condolences to the Ancelotti family.
Giuseppe, who suffered from diabetes, had fallen into a poor state of health earlier this year. His son has since regularly made trips back to Italy to check on his father, who resided at a nursing home in Gonzaga in the province of Mantova, a few kilometres from the Ancelottis' hometown of Reggiolo.
"My father is not well – he's an old man – so when possible I have to go to Italy to see him," Carlo said in September. "He has good support from my sister back home, but I will be there when I can. Everyone here knows my situation, and I have good support from my assistants. It's difficult, emotionally, when it's your father. I have to do my best to stay close to him, but this is life. I will keep my focus."
A BBC piece by Brian Alexander, published last July, took a closer look at Carlo Ancelotti. It included several quotes from Giuseppe, a retired farmer, all of which were in glowing praise of his son.
"I am eternally proud. I get very emotional when I talk about him. He is always joking with people," Giuseppe is quoted as saying. "Carletto's very light-hearted and takes things in his stride. He's very philosophical about life. During the bad times he doesn't get down if things aren't going his way."
Fantastic stuff.
The funeral will take place on Saturday in Reggiolo. Carlo will return for Sunday's game against Arsenal at Stamford Bridge. A class act, always.
Again, we at The CO wish all the best to the Ancelotti family at this most difficult time.