- Carlo Ancelotti has been in charge at Real Madrid twice, from 2013 to 2015, and 2021 to 2025.
- Ancelotti has won everything with the Spanish giants, including two La Liga titles, and three Champions League wins.
- The Italian manager is leaving the Santiago Bernabéu for the Brazilian national team, who are aiming to win their sixth World Cup in 2026.
Carlo Ancelotti is one of the greatest managers in soccer history, having won six league titles in Europe’s biggest leagues. He has also won five Champions League trophies, including three with Real Madrid.
But the Italian has never managed a national team. He’s taking on one of the biggest jobs in soccer as Ancelotti will leave Real Madrid for Brazil.
Ancelotti Has Won Everywhere and Will Now Aim for the World Cup
The news of Ancelotti’s Brazil hire was announced earlier this week, although it had been rumored for months.
It ends Ancelotti’s second stint with Real Madrid, where he managed from 2013 to 2015, and then from 2021 to recently. The Italian is one of the most decorated managers in club soccer history, winning all four major leagues in England, Spain, Italy, and Germany. Ancelotti is also a five-time Champions League winner with AC Milan in 2003 and 2007, and with Real Madrid in 2014, 2022, and 204.
But this season will end without a trophy for Ancelotti and Madrid, who will finish second to Barcelona in La Liga. They also lost to Barcelona in the Copa de; Rey and Supercopa de Espana finals, and were eliminated by Arsenal in the Champions League quarterfinals.
Real Madrid will replace Ancelotti with Xabi Alonso, who announced he was leaving Bayer Leverkusen last week. Alonso led Leverkusen to an undefeated Bundesliga season in 2024 in Germany and also won La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid as a player.
Does This Boost Brazil’s 2026 World Cup Odds?
Brazil’s odds at World Cup betting sites haven’t moved much with the announcement of Ancelotti joining the “Selecao”. They’re still one of the top teams on the board, but Brazil trails Spain, France, Argentina, England, and Germany.
Ancelotti has a lot of work to do at Brazil, who lost in the Copa América quarterfinals last summer. It’ll also be magnified as Ancelotti is the first non-Brazilian manager in the long history of the team.
Brazil was also hammered 4-1 by their rivals from Argentina in World Cup qualifying in March and currently sits fourth in the standings. Ancelotti will be in charge for the important qualifiers next month against Ecuador and Paraguay.
There is still plenty of talent on the Brazilian national team. Ballon d’Or runner-up Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo have played under Ancelotti at Real Madrid. Antony should also get a look after turning his game around at Real Betis after a terrible spell at Manchester United.
Midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has had a terrific season at Newcastle. The defense is shaky, but perhaps only Italy can say they have a better goalkeeping duo than Liverpool’s Alisson Becker and Manchester City’s Ederson.
Midfielder Casemiro played for Ancelotti at Real Madrid before heading to Manchester United, and he said, “Brazil needed a big name like him, someone who commands respect”. Casemiro, who could be recalled to the team for the first time since October 2023, is right.
Brazil leads all countries with five World Cup wins but hasn’t won since 2022. They’ve lost in the quarterfinals in four of the last five World Cups. That’s not good enough in Brazil, and Ancelotti has a massive job ahead of him.
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