Reports suggest that legendary Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti is set to leave Spanish giants Real Madrid to take charge of the Brazil national team, with an eye on the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. According to The Athletic, the plan is for Ancelotti to depart the Spanish club at the end of the 2024-25 season. While the report indicates his move to Brazil might begin with World Cup qualifiers this summer, his contract is not expected to be long-term.
While Real Madrid recently exited the UEFA Champions League in the quarterfinals and lost the Copa del Rey final, they remain strong contenders for the La Liga title, currently sitting second in the standings. An upcoming match against rivals FC Barcelona could mark Ancelotti`s final El Clásico appearance as Real Madrid manager.
The Brazilian Football Confederation is reportedly in talks with Ancelotti`s representatives to finalize the agreement. Details regarding a potential early release from Real Madrid and his involvement in selecting the squad for upcoming June qualifiers, where he might debut on the bench, are still being discussed. Brazil is currently on track to qualify for the next World Cup and holds the unique distinction of being the only nation to have participated in every tournament.
Ancelotti`s Legendary Career
Carlo Ancelotti is widely regarded as one of the most successful managers in football history, boasting 31 major trophies won across Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and England. He is the sole manager to have claimed league titles in all five major European leagues and holds the record for the most UEFA Champions League (five) and UEFA Super Cup (five) titles as a coach. Adding a major international trophy with Brazil would be another crowning achievement in his already illustrious career.
