Former Bristol Rovers manager set for role working with Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe

According to The Athletic, Mangan will be joining Carlo Ancelotti's first-team coaching staff. He will swap his role as assistant coach at Stockport County, for the 15-time Champions League winners.

The move to the Santiago Bernabeu is taking place from the friendship formed by Mangan and Carlo's son Davide, who is the assistant manager at Madrid. The pair did their UEFA Pro Licence coaching badges with the Football Association of Wales, and will soon start working together in Spain's capital.

In The Athletic's report, it says that the father and son Madrid duo were looking for an English coach with experience of the English Football League (EFL), with Davide recommending him to his father. When Davide opts to start his own managerial career, he plans to take Mangan with him. Mangan is now waiting to work permit, before he can get down to work with last season's Champions League winners

The 38-year-old’s move to Madrid is a stark contrast to where he was 12 months ago. In September 2023, Mangan was working as assistant coach to Joey Barton, and had overseen the first few games of the season because of Barton's suspension.

The former Shrewsbury Town striker ended up taking up the reins for a caretaker period after Barton was dismissed at the end of October 23.Mangan oversaw seven games in charge, winning four and losing just the once, but he soon departed after the appointment of Matt Taylor.

During his time at the Memorial Stadium, Antony Evans and Aaron Collins will have been considered the two leading players he would have coached, but now he’s going to be working with global superstars such as Jude Bellingham and Kylian Mbappe.