Ancelotti and Brazil: The Seleção’s First Foreign Boss Prepares For a New Challenge
As Carletto prepares to take charge of Brazil, FIFA looks at why he is the ideal appointment to turn around the nation’s flagging fortunes.
At 11:14 in Brasilia, the Brazilian Football Association (CBF) made a historic announcement: Carlo Ancelotti was to take over as head coach of the Seleção. The most successful team in FIFA World Cup history will now be managed by the first coach to win league titles in each of Europe’s five major leagues.
Amidst the unprecedented nature of the appointment, Carletto’s links to Brazilian football and what lies ahead for this new partnership, we look at four key points to consider.
Officially unprecedented
It will not quite be the first time that a foreign coach has taken charge of the Brazilian national team. It has happened before, but only on an interim basis.
Portuguese Joreca took charge of the team for two matches against Uruguay in 1944, though it was an arrangement that saw him co-manage the side with Flavio Costa. They won both of their matches.
Argentinian Filpo Nunez then took the reins for a single match in 1965, in what was another unusual set of circumstances: a celebratory match to mark the inauguration of the Estadio Mineirao – one of the host venues for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ and the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027™ –, his Palmeiras side were invited to represent Brazil in another friendly against Uruguay, securing victory by a 3-0 margin.
Taking charge of the team in an official capacity for a World Cup qualifier, however, has never happened.
Interestingly, throughout an illustrious career that has seen him manage – and win titles with – clubs in Italy, Spain, England, France and Germany, he has never taken charge of a national team.
Royal backing
The day after Brazil’s painful defeat to Croatia at the quarter-final stage of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, Brazilian legend Zico spoke to FIFA about that game and his thoughts on the future of the team.
In a strange coincidence, while discussing Vinicius Jr’s progress at Real Madrid, O Galinho floated the idea that Carlo Ancelotti would be a good option for the Seleção, even before the CBF’s interest in the coach started to become apparent.
“Vinicius didn’t get many opportunities with Zidane. He was always quiet, hard-working, and he really took off when Ancelotti arrived”, he said.
“In fact, if I had to choose someone to replace Tite, a foreign coach, he would be the first name on my list. Ancelotti likes Brazilian football and he knows it well.
He is also friends with other Brazilian legends, particularly Paulo Roberto Falcao – they won the Italian league together at Roma in 1983. In 2022, he welcomed his old friend for an exchange in Madrid. Falcao told FIFA at the time, “We share experiences, we talk tactics, trends in Brazil, European trends.”
Best in the world
During his time in Madrid, the 65-year-old has also worked with Rodrygo and Eder Militao. Along with Vini, they are the most recent examples from a list of more than 40 Brazilian players who have helped him put together one of the most impressive CVs in world football.
Two players on that list happen to be the last two Brazilians to be voted the best player in the world whilst under his leadership: Kaka in 2007 and, of course, Vinicius in 2024.
“He has done so much for me. He has always given me confidence, he has kept me in line when I needed it, and we’ve built a really good relationship. He cares about me as much as I care about him. He has changed me as a player; not only on the pitch, but the way I think about training and my own development”, Vinicius said of Ancelotti.
Almost two decades before celebrating with Vini, the Italian enjoyed a similar experience with Kaka. That was his second time winning the Champions League. The first was in 2003, when goalkeeper Dida was in his starting lineup and centre-back Roque Junior and left-back Serginho came off the bench. His squad also had a further Brazilian presence in Rivaldo, midfielder Leonardo and centre-back Claiton.
What lies ahead
Since Tite’s departure in 2022, three local Brazilian coaches have been tasked with leading the Seleção: interim coach Ramon Menezes was followed by Fernando Diniz, who won the 2023 Copa Libertadores with Fluminense, and Dorival Junior, who won the same competition the year before with Flamengo, the latter leaving the role in March.
Brazil’s World Cup qualification campaign got off to a good start, but they were unable to maintain their early momentum as they had to deal with a number of notable absentees through injury – particularly Neymar.
They have suffered some historic defeats during this campaign but, with 21 points, they currently sit fourth in the table, which would see them secure automatic qualification. With four matches remaining, they are six points ahead of Venezuela in seventh, which at the very least would earn them a shot at qualification through the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.
Ancelotti’s first objective in his new role will be to secure Brazil’s qualification for the World Cup. If, and when, qualification is confirmed, after his four years in Madrid, the head coach will have to familiarise himself with his new surroundings and start preparations, with the World Cup set to start on 11 June 2026.
