Carlo Ancelotti has been officially appointed as the new head coach of the Brazilian national football team. The renowned Italian manager will depart his current role at Real Madrid at the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, a move that had been widely anticipated by numerous reports.
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) made the announcement on Monday, stating, “The CBF is proud to confirm that Carlo Ancelotti will become the next head coach of the Brazilian national football team. Mr. Ancelotti, a legend of the game and the most successful manager in football history, will officially take charge following the end of the 2024/25 La Liga season, ahead of Brazil`s FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign scheduled for June. His official start date is May 26th, 2025.”
The CBF also highlighted the historic nature of the appointment: “Carlo Ancelotti arrives as the first foreign manager in the history of the Seleção. This landmark moment sees the coming together of two icons – the only five-time FIFA World Cup champions, and a coach with an unmatched record across Europe’s elite competitions. The CBF warmly welcomes Mr. Ancelotti and looks forward to a new era of success under his leadership.”
Meanwhile, Real Madrid, the club Ancelotti is set to leave, is reportedly planning to appoint Xabi Alonso as his successor this summer, ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup. Alonso recently confirmed his departure from Bayer Leverkusen. Alonso is expected to commence his new role after the final weekend of the La Liga season. Ancelotti is also anticipated to begin his chapter with the national team – his first such position – just before Brazil’s FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers in June, where they will face Ecuador and Paraguay.
According to The Athletic, Ancelotti has already signed his contract with Brazil, with negotiations handled by Brazilian businessman Diego Fernandes over recent weeks. Italian journalist Matteo Moretto reports it is a one-year agreement valid until the end of the FIFA 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The path to securing the deal was reportedly challenging, with the agreement almost falling apart when the Brazilian FA reportedly considered ending talks. However, discussions resumed successfully, and Ancelotti is now ready to embark on this new phase with Brazil.
Recent results for Real Madrid mentioned in the original text include elimination by Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, a 3-2 defeat to FC Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final, and a 4-3 La Liga loss to Barcelona on Sunday. These results effectively ended Real Madrid`s league title aspirations.
Ancelotti is widely regarded as one of the most successful managers in the history of the sport. He has accumulated 31 major trophies throughout his career in Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and England. He holds the unique achievement of being the only manager to have won league titles in all five major European leagues. Furthermore, he holds the record for the most Champions League titles (five) and UEFA Super Cup titles (five) as a coach. Winning a major trophy with a national team like Brazil, the only nation to have qualified for every World Cup, would represent another significant milestone in the illustrious career of this influential figure in football management.
Dominic Ashworth