Carlo Ancelottiโs managerial career takes a monumental turn as he transitions from leading Real Madrid to managing the Brazilian national soccer team, a move that has stirred significant buzz in the soccer world. However, both Real Madrid and Ancelotti have remained noticeably quiet regarding this major development.
The news of Ancelotti leaving one of the worldโs most successful and renowned club teams to head Brazilโs national team, equally iconic, broke on Monday. Despite the magnitude of the announcement, it has been met with silence. Twenty-four hours after the Brazilian soccer federation broke the news, Real Madrid had yet to make any public acknowledgment. Similarly, Ancelotti refrained from offering any statements when Brazil made the official announcement.
This silence created an uneasy gap in communication until Ancelotti finally addressed the move during a press conference on Tuesday, originally intended to discuss Madridโs upcoming match against Mallorca. โIf I didnโt have this news conference today it would have been a fantastic day,โ Ancelotti commented, reflecting on the necessity of discussing his forward move.
Stepping into the role of head coach for Brazil, the five-time world champions, should stand among the peaks of Ancelottiโs illustrious career. Notably, he is the first non-Brazilian to assume the position and take charge of players sporting the legendary yellow jersey. Known for his calm persona, Ancelottiโs reaction has been relatively muted. At 65, Ancelotti, the record-holder for Champions League trophies as a manager, will officially start his tenure with Brazil on May 26, aiming to guide them to victory in next yearโs World Cup.
Despite the looming departure, Ancelotti remains focused on the three remaining rounds of the Spanish league, emphasizing his dedication to Madrid until the very end. The announcement followed Madridโs narrow 4-3 loss to Barcelona over the weekend, signaling a likely shift in the La Liga title. With Barcelona needing just two more points to secure the championship, they could confirm their victory against Espanyol on Thursday.
Ancelottiโs planned exit has been anticipated, with Xabi Alonso, formerly of Bayer Leverkusen, favored to take the reins. Although Madrid partook in talks to facilitate Ancelottiโs early release from his contractโinitially extended for another yearโthe clubโs lack of a public response to this transition stands out. No congratulatory or farewell messages for Ancelotti have emerged, despite his achievements, including two Champions League triumphs and a league title during his second spell at Madrid, alongside his successful first stint from 2013-15.
โReal Madrid will release the statement when they want. Thereโs no problem whatsoever,โ Ancelotti remarked, indicating patience for the official recognition from the club at a future time.
Ancelottiโs appointment is a significant win for Brazil, as they aim to recapture their past glory. Previously linked with other high-profile managers such as Pep Guardiola, who renewed with Manchester City, Brazil secured Ancelottiโs services ahead of crucial World Cup qualifiers in June against Ecuador and Paraguay. Ancelottiโs new focus moves away from potentially leading Real Madrid at the expanded Club World Cup in the United States this summer; instead, it is firmly on coaching Brazil, last crowned world champions in 2002, and invigorating their team spirit after rivals Argentina claimed the 2022 title.
For Real Madrid, the impending finale of Ancelottiโs era and their likely league concession to Barcelona underline the pressures accompanying such a prestigious club. The path forward points towards Alonso, a former Madrid Champions League victor as a player, celebrated for his flourishing coaching career at Bayer Leverkusen, leading to league and cup success in Germany. He was previously linked with both Madrid and Liverpool but chose to remain in Germany until this seasonโs end. Alonso is widely rumored to be Ancelottiโs successor at Madrid.
โI like Alonso a lot,โ Ancelotti expressed, offering respect to the man believed to follow in his footsteps. โI donโt have any advice for him because he already has all the tools needed to become a great coach in the future.โ