Carlo Ancelotti has been appointed as head coach of the Brazil national team and will start work on May 26.
The 65-year-old will leave Real Madrid after their final game of the La Liga season against Real Sociedad. The Athletic reported the news earlier on Monday, ahead of a statement from the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) which confirmed Ancelotti’s appointment as the first foreign coach of the Brazil men’s team.
The Italian had a year left on his terms at the Bernabeu but a deal was confirmed following cordial talks between all parties, facilitated and led by Diego Fernandes on behalf of the CBF. Madrid have not yet officially announced his departure.
Among the most successful managers in football history, Ancelotti is to pick up Brazil’s 2026 World Cup qualification campaign, with the aim of a record-extending sixth triumph at the finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
“Bringing Carlo Ancelotti to lead Brazil is more than a strategic move,” CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues said in a news release. “It’s a statement to the world that we are determined to regain the top spot on the podium.
“He’s the greatest coach in history and now he’s in charge of the greatest team on the planet. Together, we will write glorious new chapters for Brazilian football.”
The Athletic previously reported that Ancelotti had reached an agreement with Madrid over the terms of his departure.
This followed a report on April 27 from The Athletic that the Italian coach was set to leave Madrid and take the Brazil head coach role on an initial one-year deal until the end of the 2026 World Cup.
He will replace Dorival Junior with Brazil, who was dismissed in March after 14 months in charge with his first game set to be the World Cup Qualifier against Ecuador on June 6.
Ancelotti re-joined Madrid in 2021 and has won two La Liga titles and the Champions League on three occasions across two spells at the club.
Madrid exited the Champions League at the quarter-final stage to Arsenal, lost the Copa del Rey final to Barcelona in extra time last month and trail Hansi Flick’s side by seven points at the top of La Liga with three games remaining.
(Photo: Gokhan Taner/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)
