Carlo Ancelotti is set to become the new head coach of Brazil, leaving his role at Real Madrid at the end of the 2024-25 season. This move was widely anticipated and has now been confirmed by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) on Monday. The CBF statement hailed Ancelotti, calling him a “legend of the game” and the “most successful manager in football history.” He will officially take charge after the 2024/25 La Liga season concludes, specifically from May 26th, 2025, in preparation for Brazil`s FIFA World Cup qualifying matches in June. His appointment marks a significant moment as he becomes the first foreign manager in the history of the Brazilian national team, known as the Seleção. The CBF described this as a “landmark moment” uniting the five-time World Cup champions with a coach boasting unparalleled success in European football. The confederation expressed a warm welcome and anticipation for a new era under his leadership.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid is reportedly planning to appoint Xabi Alonso as their manager in the summer, following his recent announcement that he will depart Bayer Leverkusen. Alonso is expected to begin his tenure after the final weekend of the La Liga season. Similarly, Ancelotti`s new role with Brazil, his first managing a national team, is expected to commence ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers scheduled for June, where Brazil will play Ecuador and Paraguay.
According to reports, Ancelotti has already signed his contract with Brazil. The negotiations, facilitated by Brazilian businessman Diego Fernandes, took place over several weeks. It is reported to be a one-year agreement, set to run until the conclusion of the FIFA 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The path to this agreement wasn`t smooth, with reports suggesting the deal nearly collapsed when the Brazilian FA considered ending talks. However, the situation reportedly stabilized, paving the way for Ancelotti to begin his new chapter with Brazil.
During the current 2024-25 season, Real Madrid experienced setbacks, including being eliminated by Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals, losing 3-2 to FC Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final, and suffering a 4-3 defeat against Barcelona in a recent La Liga Clasico. These results have significantly hampered Real Madrid`s league title aspirations.
Ancelotti is widely recognized as one of football`s most successful managers. His impressive career includes winning 31 major trophies across Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and England. Notably, he is the only manager to have won league titles in all five major European leagues and holds the record for the most UEFA Champions League titles (five) and UEFA Super Cup titles (five) as a coach. Securing a major trophy with a powerhouse national team like Brazil, the only nation to have qualified for every World Cup, would add another significant achievement to the already remarkable career of this highly influential figure in soccer.
