Carlo Ancelotti`s second stint as Real Madrid manager might be ending soon. After a difficult week where Real Madrid was eliminated from the Champions League by Arsenal and fell further behind Barcelona in La Liga, speculation about Ancelotti`s future is growing. Although Real Madrid still has a chance to win the Copa del Rey and La Liga titles, sources indicate Ancelotti is likely to leave at the end of the season.
Ancelotti has been linked to the Brazil national team coaching position, so news of his potential Real Madrid departure is not entirely unexpected. Despite having won the Champions League with Real Madrid just last year, there`s increasing talk about him leaving. Ancelotti, now 65, rejoined Real Madrid in 2021 to stabilize and improve the team, which he successfully did.
As Real Madrid enters a new phase, aiming to maximize the potential of players like Kylian Mbappe and achieve team balance, it could be an opportune moment to bring in a different manager to lead the club`s next period of dominance. While Ancelotti`s contract runs until 2026, he could leave this summer, which aligns with Brazil`s timeline for hiring a new coach.
With the 2026 World Cup just over a year away, Brazil needs to appoint a permanent manager before the June international break, where they will play against Ecuador and Paraguay. The Brazilian national team faces several challenges as they aim to qualify for the World Cup, making the timing of this coaching change crucial.
Real Madrid is scheduled to participate in the Club World Cup in the United States starting on June 15. A decision regarding Ancelotti`s future might need to be made before then if he is to take on the Brazil job. Ancelotti, a highly successful manager with five Champions League titles, will have numerous options, but it appears his time at Madrid may be concluding. Xabi Alonso, currently managing Bayer Leverkusen, is reportedly a leading candidate to replace Ancelotti if Real Madrid decides to make a change, according to reports.
Although this season has not been as successful as last season for Leverkusen, where they won the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal, Alonso led the German team in the Champions League, gaining valuable experience in a competition that is highly significant for Real Madrid. No experience can fully prepare a manager for the demands at Real Madrid, but having a tournament like the Club World Cup during the offseason could be vital for a new manager to adjust if Madrid decides to make a coaching change.
Dominic Ashworth