Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is set to become the first foreigner in almost 60 years to coach Brazil’s national team the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) confirmed.
Ancelotti, who is 64 years old, has one more season left on his contract with Real, which he says he wants to keep. He will take over Brazil in time for the Copa America, which will be held in the United States in June 2024.
The Brazilian federation had already said that Fernando Diniz of Fluminense would be in charge of the team for the next year.
“This guy (Diniz) is a coach who has a nice style of play,” Ednaldo Rodriguez president of the CBF told CNN Brazil.
“His style is similar to the coach who will assume the role at the Copa America, Ancelotti.”
The prize-hungry football fan In 2026, Brazil will want one of the most successful football coaches in Europe to help them win their sixth World Cup. It hasn’t happened since 2002.
The 2022 World Cup was especially painful for Brazil because they lost to Croatia in the quarterfinals and their bitter rivals, Argentina, won the tournament.
After they got rid of him, Tite closed the book on his six years in charge.
Ancelotti agreed to take over Brazil after months of talks with Rodrigues, who had the Italian at the top of his list.
Ancelotti had said that coaching Real Madrid would be his last job after almost 30 years, but getting one of the most prestigious and difficult jobs in football made him change his mind.
Brazilian leaders said that they were interested in Ancelotti not only because he had won trophies before, but also because he was easygoing and could get along well with the players.
“We went after him not only due to his record, but also because he is a decent person,” Rodrigues told beIN Sports recently.
“Those who have worked with him say that he is open, cultured, and he appreciates Brazilian football.”
When he was Arrigo Sacchi’s assistant coach and Italy lost to Brazil on penalties in the 1994 World Cup final, he had to put his love of Brazilian football on hold.
With Brazil, Ancelotti will see some Real Madrid players he knows.
In his most recent time with Real, he has helped win six trophies with the help of Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Eder Militao.
“He is the best coach in the world,” said Vinicius, who has developed under Ancelotti and formed a close bond with the coach who supported the 22-year-old Brazilian when he was the target of racist abuse last season.
Ancelotti will be the fourth person who is not from Brazil to coach the team. The last one was the Argentine Filpo Nunez, who ran one game in 1965.
Ancelotti has won the Champions League twice, once with Real Madrid and once with AC Milan.
He has won domestic league titles with Real Madrid and Milan, Chelsea in England, Bayern Munich in Germany, and Paris Saint-Germain in France.
Since Tite stepped down, Ramon Menezes has been in charge of the Brazil team as a caretaker. He will now hand over to Diniz.
“Fernando Diniz will lead the Brazilian team for a year, and I’m sure he will do it with great competence, as always during his professional career,” said Rodrigues in a video statement.
This year, Diniz, who is 49 years old, will be in charge of the first six qualifying games for the 2026 World Cup in South America. He will be in charge of the games against world champions Argentina and Uruguay.
“It is a dream, an honour and a huge pride to serve the national team,” Diniz said.
In September, Brazil will play at home against Bolivia and then go on the road to play Peru.
Photo by EPA/Daniel Gonzalez
