The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has recently made an epic decision to make Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid’s current coach, the new Brazil national coach. The elderly Italian will, however, officially be in charge after May 26th, when he concludes working with the Spanish club. This appointment will make Ancelotti the first full-time foreign coach in Brazil in nearly a century, since the last time, a new era for the five-time World Cup kings.
The return of Ancelotti in Brazil is regarded as a brave resurgence of the country’s football fortunes before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. President of CBF, Ednaldo Rodrigues, said the hiring is a statement of ambition as it demonstrates how Brazil is working towards getting back onto the top of the podium. The announcement also highlights the need for a speedy reconstruction process by Brazil after a period of turbulence with erratic results and instability in managers.
From Real Madrid to Rio
Ancelotti’s appointment is insisted on at a tough season for Real Madrid. Despite being signed up until 2026, this latest failure in the Champions League against Arsenal, and a La Liga title race lost to Barcelona are reported to have brought forward the departure date for El Cojo. Besides, Real Madrid went down in a painful 4-3 defeat in the Copa del Rey against their rivals, a further spark for speculation about Ancelotti’s future. Even as he departs from Club football, there is already talk of who will take over from Gianluigi Buffon, and Xabi, who is currently performing well in Bayer Leverkusen, is being talked of by many as the right candidate to replace Buffon in the La Liga team of Madrid.
An Immediate Challenge
It will be a matter of weeks before Ancelotti’s first tests with Brazil. He will captain the team in World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador on June 5 and Paraguay on June 10, both to take place in São Paulo. The South American qualifying table has left Brazil in the fourth spot, a position that has raised eyebrows for fans and analysts alike. His appointment follows the recent dismissal of Dorival Júnior, who managed just 14 months in the role before being fired in March after a heavy loss to Argentina.
Since Tite exited after the 2022 World Cup, Brazil’s national team has had a leadership vacuum. Short spells by Ramon Menezes and Fernando Diniz could not steady the team, and the CBF came under pressure to find a long-term solution. In Ancelotti, they now have a new strategy, luring international experience and a proven track record to restore Brazil’s place in the world.
A Legendary Career Meets an Iconic Team
In world football, Ancelotti counts among the most decorated managers. His resume boasts five UEFA Champions League titles with AC Milan and Real Madrid, league honours in Italy, England, France, Germany, and Spain. His previous foreign coaching experience was as an assistant when Italy reached the 1994 World Cup final on penalties, only to lose to Brazil.
Now he accepts the role of leading the return of the world to Brazilian dominance. Since Neymar himself is still on the road to recovery from an ACL problem, Ancelotti’s role will encompass tactical and cultural reconstruction. It’s a massive undertaking, but if there is anyone who can get results on the biggest stage in the world, it’s Carlo Ancelotti.
