One of football’s most decorated managers, Carlo Ancelotti, will take the reins of Brazil’s national team, leaving Real Madrid at the end of the La Liga season in a seismic move that unites two global giants of the game.
Ancelotti’s appointment marks a historic first he becomes the first foreign manager to lead Brazil’s men’s national team. The 65-year-old Italian officially begins his tenure on May 26, stepping into one of football’s most pressurised roles.
The decision comes after Real Madrid’s title hopes all but evaporated following a 3-1 El Clasico defeat to Barcelona. With three games remaining, Los Blancos trail their fierce rivals by seven points, leaving them staring at their first trophyless season in four years.
Despite the underwhelming end, Ancelotti leaves the Bernabéu with a glittering legacy. Across two spells, he delivered 15 major trophies including the 2022 Champions League and La Liga double and cemented his place as one of Madrid’s most successful coaches.
Brazil, meanwhile, are in transition. They sit fourth in South American World Cup qualifying and have not lifted the World Cup since 2002. Ancelotti replaces Dorival Junior, sacked in March after a humbling 4-1 loss to Argentina.
“This landmark moment sees the coming together of two icons,” the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) declared. CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues added: “He’s the greatest coach in history and now he’s in charge of the greatest team on the planet.”
The deal was brokered amicably, with Real president Florentino Pérez praised for facilitating Ancelotti’s early release from a contract originally set to run until 2026.
Ancelotti’s immediate task is clear: guide Brazil through their next qualifiers against Paraguay and Ecuador. Longer-term, all eyes will be on the 2026 World Cup across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
At Madrid, the future beckons too. Former Real midfielder Xabi Alonso is widely expected to succeed Ancelotti, following his announcement that he’ll leave Bayer Leverkusen at season’s end.
