Carlo Ancelotti has managed some of the most demanding clubs on the planet. Real Madrid twice, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Chelsea — the man has seen it all. But walking into the Brazil job is a different beast entirely, and even a manager with his experience has had to earn his stripes with a fanbase that was not exactly rolling out the red carpet for him.
The Brazilian public wanted a Brazilian manager. That is completely understandable. This is a country where football is practically a religion, and handing the keys to an Italian — however decorated — felt like an insult to some. Ancelotti had to navigate that noise from day one, and if reports are anything to go by, he has handled it with exactly the kind of calm authority that has defined his entire career.
What Brazil actually need right now is someone who can restore order. The Seleção have been a bit of a mess in recent years, underperforming at tournaments and lacking a clear identity. Ancelotti is very good at taking a squad of big egos and making them function as a unit. He did it at Madrid with a dressing room full of Galacticos who all thought they were the main character. If anyone can get Vinicius Jr, Rodrygo and company pulling in the same direction, it is probably him.
That said, international management is not the same as club management, and that is worth remembering. You get your players for a few days at a time, the preparation windows are tight, and you have no control over how those players are being used week to week. Ancelotti is walking into a situation where expectations are sky high and patience is historically very short.
Brazil have not won a World Cup since 2002. That is a long time for a nation that considers anything less than the trophy a disappointment. Ancelotti knows what he signed up for, and the early signs suggest he is winning people over slowly but surely. Whether that translates to success in 2026 on home soil in the United States, Canada and Mexico remains to be seen.
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