Back in 2023, when rumors first surfaced about Carlo Ancelotti becoming Brazil’s national team coach, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva publicly questioned the decision. “He (Ancelotti) was never Italy’s coach. Why isn’t he trying to fix Italy, the team that didn’t even qualify for the last World Cup (2022)?” said Lula, clearly expressing his disapproval.
Despite the president’s resistance, Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Ednaldo Rodrigues pushed ahead with the plan—and eventually succeeded. Ancelotti is now set to take over as Brazil’s head coach in May 2025, marking a historic moment as he becomes the first foreign manager to take charge of the Selecao on a full-time basis.
When asked once again about the appointment during a press conference in China, President Lula reiterated his position, though with a softer tone. He acknowledged Ancelotti’s coaching pedigree but emphasized his preference for a Brazilian at the helm. “To be honest, I have no issue with him being a foreigner… but I believe Brazil has enough talented coaches of its own to manage the Selecao,” he said.
Lula’s sentiment reflects a traditional stance in Brazilian football—throughout its history, Brazil has never had a full-time foreign head coach. The last and only foreigner to coach the team, albeit briefly, was Argentina’s Filpo Nunez in 1965. Ancelotti’s appointment breaks nearly six decades of tradition.
For Ancelotti, this will be his first-ever role as a national team manager. Yet his credentials are beyond question. He is the only coach to have won league titles in all of Europe’s top five leagues and holds a record five UEFA Champions League titles as a coach.
Perhaps that track record explains why even a skeptical Lula is harboring high hopes. “I hope he can help Brazil qualify for the World Cup first—and then, if possible, win it,” the president added.
Carlo Ancelotti will officially begin his tenure as Brazil’s head coach in the last week of May, reportedly on May 26, 2025. He has signed a contract that runs until the end of the 2026 World Cup. The deal includes a monthly salary of $85,000 and an annual income of $10 million, plus a performance-based bonus. If Brazil wins the 2026 World Cup under Ancelotti, he will receive an additional $5 million in bonuses.
UA / TDS
