Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is set to depart the Spanish club after the 2024-25 La Liga season to take up the head coach role with Brazil’s national team, marking a significant shift in his illustrious career.
The 65-year-old Italian, who signed a contract extension with Madrid until June 2026, has reportedly reached an initial one-year agreement with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) to lead the Seleção through the 2026 World Cup, with an option to extend until 2030, according to The Athletic and BBC Sport. The move follows months of speculation, intensified by Madrid’s 5-1 aggregate loss to Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals on April 16, 2025, and a 3-2 defeat to Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final on April 26.
Ancelotti, the only coach to win five Champions League titles, informed Madrid’s dressing room of his decision, with training ground sources indicating he will not manage the team at the Club World Cup in June 2025, per The Athletic. The CBF, led by President Ednaldo Rodrigues, has pursued Ancelotti since 2022, viewing him as the ideal candidate to restore Brazil’s dominance after a 4-1 World Cup qualifying loss to Argentina in March 2025 led to Dorival Junior’s sacking. Brazilian businessman Diego Fernandes, representing the CBF, attended Madrid’s recent matches to finalize negotiations, which include a reported $10 million annual salary, per BBC Sport.
Madrid, trailing Barcelona by four points in La Liga with five games left, faces a transitional period. The club has identified Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso as the top candidate to replace Ancelotti, with director of football Santiago Solari as a potential interim, per The Athletic. Ancelotti’s son, Davide, his assistant coach, will not join him in Brazil unless no head coaching offers arise, signaling a new chapter for the Ancelotti family. Despite public denials from the CBF about Fernandes’ presence in Madrid, sources confirm ongoing talks, with a formal announcement expected post-season.
Ancelotti’s tenure at Madrid, spanning two spells since 2013, yielded two La Liga titles and three Champions Leagues, but recent struggles, including injuries to key players like Vinicius Junior, have fueled scrutiny. His move to Brazil, where he will coach stars like Vinicius, Rodrygo, and Endrick, aligns with the CBF’s ambition to win a sixth World Cup. The transition, while a blow to Madrid, positions Ancelotti to make history with one of soccer’s most storied national teams.