The Brazilian federation is reportedly considering appointing Carlo Ancelotti as their national team manager this summer. This comes after Brazil`s head coach, Dorival Junior, was dismissed following a significant 4-1 defeat to Argentina in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifiers. Rumors of Ancelotti`s potential move to Brazil surfaced earlier in 2023 when the federation aimed to secure him for the 2024 Copa America. However, Ancelotti renewed his contract with Real Madrid, committing to the Spanish club.
The prospect of hiring a highly decorated manager like Ancelotti is still being discussed. It would be a notable move, as Brazil has historically preferred Brazilian coaches, with only three non-Brazilians ever holding the position. Furthermore, all five of Brazil`s World Cup victories were under Brazilian managers. While conventional wisdom often suggests national teams should be led by coaches from their own country, recent examples, such as Thomas Tuchel for England and Mauricio Pochettino for the U.S. men`s national team, demonstrate a growing trend of federations looking globally for top talent to elevate their teams.
With many national team coaching positions currently filled, let`s speculate on ideal European manager pairings for USA, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Uruguay:
Argentina: Pep Guardiola
Lionel Scaloni has achieved remarkable success with Argentina, winning the Copa America in both 2021 and 2024, and most importantly, the 2022 Qatar World Cup, defeating France in a penalty shootout. Despite considering leaving his post in 2023, Scaloni is now fully committed and will lead Argentina in the 2026 World Cup.
Pep Guardiola, currently under contract with Manchester City until the summer of 2027, has previously expressed interest in managing a national team in the future, potentially before retiring from his illustrious club coaching career. While a reunion with Lionel Messi may be unlikely due to Messi`s age, Guardiola is among the few managers who could effectively succeed a successful coach like Scaloni, who ushered in a new golden era for Argentina.
Guardiola`s managerial style and his ability to communicate in Spanish would make him an excellent fit for Argentina. Coaching the Argentinian national team at the iconic Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires would be a truly memorable moment in football.
United States: Jose Mourinho
In considering top coaches, Jose Mourinho is a prominent figure. He was close to managing Portugal in January 2023 but chose to remain with AS Roma, having recently won the 2022 UEFA Conference League. Mourinho has a long-standing affinity for the United States, often holding preseason camps at UCLA during his tenures at Chelsea and Inter Milan. For the USMNT, Mourinho`s task would be similar to his role at AS Roma: to elevate the team to the next level. While Pochettino is currently in charge and preparing to lead the U.S. at the World Cup, a disappointing performance, such as a group-stage exit, could potentially lead to coaching changes.
Mexico: Mikel Arteta
Mexico is under pressure to make significant progress, especially as they will co-host the 2026 World Cup. Current manager Javier Aguirre has had a positive start, winning the Concacaf Nations League. However, considering European coaches, a manager like Arsenal`s Mikel Arteta would be an ideal choice. Arteta is a young, tactically astute coach who prioritizes youth development, an area Mexico needs to focus on in the coming years.
Brazil: Jurgen Klopp
While Carlo Ancelotti is Brazil`s primary target, Jurgen Klopp stands out as another strong European candidate. Brazil needs a manager with experience in handling both established stars and emerging young talents. Jurgen Klopp, after departing Liverpool last year, became the head of global soccer for the RedBull Group, which includes the Brazilian club RedBull Bragantino. Although Klopp was considered for the Germany national team job, and reports suggested a clause in his RedBull contract allowing him to leave for the German FA, RedBull has denied these claims. Currently, if Klopp returns to management, a national team role seems more likely than a club position.
