Carlo Ancelotti and Luka Modrić said goodbye to the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday as Real Madrid beat Real Sociedad 2-0, with Ancelotti saying the emotion he felt topped winning the Champions League.
Madrid had made the departure of coach Ancelotti -- who leaves to take charge of the Brazil national team -- official on Friday, a day after announcing that midfielder Modrić, 39, would also be departing this summer.
Modrić, who has won a club record 28 trophies with Madrid, will leave after this summer's Club World Cup in the United States, where the team will be coached by Xabi Alonso, whose arrival is expected to be confirmed in the coming days.
"It's been an honour, a pleasure, to coach this club," Ancelotti said, speaking to the crowd after the final whistle. "It's an unforgettable story. Nobody will forget Karim [Benzema]'s three goals against Paris Saint-Germain [in 2022]. Nobody will forget Rodrygo's two goals against Manchester City [that same year]. Nobody will forget Joselu's two goals [against Bayern Munich, in 2024]. And I won't forget every day I've spent here. Ciao."
Ancelotti is the most decorated manager in Madrid's history, with 15 trophies won over six years, in two spells.
"It's the day of the greatest emotion," he added later, speaking to Real Madrid TV. "When you win the Champions League, you don't feel this kind of emotion. Crying isn't a problem, it's normal to cry... It's been an honour, a pleasure to be part of this family and to write and go down in the history of this club. That was the goal from my first day, and I've achieved it."
Ancelotti had a contract at Madrid until 2026, but a season without a major trophy -- missing out to Barcelona in LaLiga and the Copa del Rey, and eliminated in the Champions League quarterfinals -- convinced the club to make a change.
Modrić has spent 13 years at Madrid, becoming one of the most influential midfielders in the club's long history. His contract will expire this summer, after Madrid's involvement in the Club World Cup is concluded.
"The moment I never wanted to come has arrived," Modrić said, speaking to the Bernabéu crowd. "It's been a long, marvellous journey. I want to thank the club, the president Florentino Pérez, all the coaches I've had all these years, my teammates, and all the people who've helped me.
"We've won a lot, we've had marvellous moments, we've won a lot of trophies, but the biggest trophy I've won has been your affection, and your love. There's a phrase I like: don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."
Modrić's 28 trophies include a joint-record six Champions Leagues, and four LaLiga titles.
"My biggest trophy is the affection and love from the Real Madrid fans," he told Real Madrid TV. "From day one until today, that's what I'll remember... It's a very emotional day. On the way to the stadium and in the dressing room, it was very difficult for me. I'm very, very grateful and happy."
Both Ancelotti and Modrić cited Madrid's epic run of comebacks in the 2022 Champions League campaign as being among their personal highlights.
"There have been so many incredible matches at the Bernabéu," Modrić said. "The Champions League, the comebacks against PSG, Chelsea, City... if I had to choose one moment, it's the PSG game. I said that if we won that game, we would win the Champions League, and that's what happened. There's still a very important challenge ahead, the Club World Cup, and we're going into it with the hope of winning it."
Kylian Mbappé scored twice -- once in each half -- in Madrid's win over Real Sociedad, to give Ancelotti and Modrić a winning send-off.
The club have already started rebuilding the squad ahead of next season, having announced the signing of defender Dean Huijsen, while ESPN has also reported that they are keen to bring in Trent Alexander-Arnold for the Club World Cup, and hope to sign left-back Álvaro Carreras from Benfica.
Madrid will begin their Club World Cup campaign against Al Hilal in Miami, Florida on June 18.