Carlo Ancelotti Swaps Real Madrid for Brazil
Carlo Ancelotti`s second tenure at Real Madrid is officially concluding. He is scheduled to leave the club after their final La Liga match against Real Sociedad on May 25 to take the Brazil national team job, a move he has been linked with for a long time. His role with Brazil commences on May 26, and he will be in charge for their World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay on June 7 and June 10, marking the beginning of preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
Ancelotti joins a list of high-profile club managers moving to national team positions before the 2026 World Cup, including Mauricio Pochettino (USA), Thomas Tuchel (England), and Julian Nagelsmann (Germany). His appointment undoubtedly increases the excitement surrounding the upcoming tournament but also serves as a reminder of the challenge facing Brazil. The five-time World Cup champions have appeared unsettled since their quarterfinal exit to Croatia in the 2022 World Cup. Their form includes winning only two of their initial six games in the 2026 qualifying campaign and being eliminated in the quarterfinals of last year`s Copa America. The new coach will be tasked with stabilizing the team and maximizing the potential of a talented attacking group led by Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, who have not consistently performed for the national team as brilliantly as they have under Ancelotti at Real Madrid.
Regarding Real Madrid, Ancelotti departs a club with which he became deeply associated during two remarkably successful periods. He commented on Saturday, anticipating his departure, that “the honeymoon [period] with Madrid will be until the last day of my life.” During his time at the Bernabéu, he won three of his five UEFA Champions League titles, becoming the competition`s most successful manager, and also secured two La Liga trophies. Former Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso, who has gained prominence after leading Bayer Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title last season, is widely expected to succeed Ancelotti. Ancelotti himself recently described Alonso as “one of the best coaches in the world.”
While Ancelotti embraces a new opportunity with Brazil, he leaves a significant challenge behind in Madrid. Los Blancos are poised to finish the season without a domestic or continental title for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign. Despite major signings like Kylian Mbappe, the team struggled to perform consistently at the highest level, frequently exposing squad imbalances and highlighting the need for reinforcements in several areas. Ancelotti returned to Madrid in 2021 to bring stability, but his confirmed exit now signals that a substantial transition period is ahead for the Spanish giants.
Premier League Promotion Race Continues
The battle for the final spot in next season`s Premier League intensifies this week as the Championship promotion playoff semifinals reach their second legs, reducing the four remaining teams to two.
One team appears to have effectively secured their place in the playoff final: Sheffield United. They host Bristol City on Monday holding a commanding 3-0 advantage from the first leg, thanks to goals from Harrison Burrows, Andre Brooks, and Callum O`Hare. This result reflects the considerable gap between the teams in the regular season standings, where Bristol finished 24 points behind United. Sheffield United, relegated from the Premier League last season, is aiming for an immediate return to England`s top division and has backed manager Chris Wilder for this promotion push.
The tie in Sunderland on Tuesday is expected to be more competitive, with the home side defending a narrow 2-1 first-leg lead against Coventry City. Goals from Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda gave Sunderland their slight advantage as they target their first Premier League appearance since the 2016-17 season, when they finished bottom. The Black Cats have endured a dramatic period since then, including immediate relegation to League One and spending four seasons in the third tier before returning to the Championship for the 2022-23 campaign. Coventry City, managed by Mark Robins, hopes to return to the Premier League for the first time since the 2000-01 season, having spent over two decades in the lower divisions since their relegation.
Both teams are vying for a place in the promotion playoff final scheduled for May 24 at Wembley Stadium in London, often referred to as “the richest game in football.” Securing a spot in the Premier League brings immense financial benefits, potentially worth hundreds of millions. For instance, Sheffield United reportedly received approximately $145 million simply for participating in the top flight last season, even finishing last, a figure significantly higher than the roughly $65 million they earned in the Championship this season as a recently relegated club.
Dominic Ashworth