Italian coaching icon Carlo Ancelotti is reportedly on the verge of leaving Spanish giants Real Madrid to take over as the head coach of the Brazilian national team. The move is anticipated to happen after the conclusion of the 2024-25 season, specifically before the Club World Cup scheduled for this summer in the United States.
According to reports, Ancelotti is expected to sign a short-term contract with Brazil and could potentially begin his tenure overseeing the World Cup qualifiers set to take place this summer. Brazil is currently on track to qualify for the next World Cup, despite a recent 4-1 loss to Argentina in their last qualification match. Upcoming fixtures in June against Ecuador and Paraguay could mark Ancelotti`s debut on the Brazilian bench. Brazil holds the unique distinction of being the only nation to have participated in every single World Cup tournament.
While Real Madrid recently faced setbacks with an exit from the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals and a 3-2 defeat in the Copa del Rey final against FC Barcelona, they remain strong contenders in the La Liga title race, sitting second in the standings. The upcoming match against FC Barcelona on May 11 could potentially be Carlo Ancelotti`s final El Clásico as Real Madrid`s head coach.
Discussions are reportedly underway between the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and Ancelotti`s representatives regarding the contract terms. Uncertainty remains as to whether Real Madrid and the CBF will come to an agreement for Ancelotti`s early release from his current deal. It is also unclear whether Ancelotti himself will be involved in selecting the squad for Brazil`s June qualifiers.
Ancelotti is widely regarded as one of the most successful managers in football history, boasting an impressive collection of 31 major trophies from his spells in Italy, France, Germany, Spain, and England. He holds the unique record of being the only manager to have won league titles across all five major European leagues. Furthermore, he is the record holder for the most UEFA Champions League titles won by a coach, with five triumphs, and also shares the record for most UEFA Super Cup titles, also with five. Adding a major trophy with a national team like Brazil would undoubtedly be another historic achievement in the career of this immensely influential figure in the sport.
