Carlo Ancelotti to coach Brazil from 2024 Copa America
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Carlo Ancelotti has a season remaining on his contract with Real and will take over Brazil in time for the Copa America.
PHOTO: AFP
Sao Paulo – Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will take over as coach of Brazil’s national team for the 2024 Copa America, said Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) president Ednaldo Rodrigues on Wednesday.
The federation had announced earlier that Fluminense’s Fernando Diniz would take charge of the team in the interim period.
Said Rodrigues: “His (Diniz) game plan is almost similar to that of the coach that will take over at Copa America, Ancelotti. We don’t call him an interim coach of the national team. He will come and make the transition in Brazil for Ancelotti.”
Several Brazil stars have backed Ancelotti, with Vinicius Jr saying in April: “Ancelotti is the best coach in the world... Hopefully, he can train me at both, at Real Madrid or in Brazil.”
Neymar said in June: “Ancelotti has won everything and I am sure he will teach us a lot.”
Ancelotti has a season remaining on his contract with Real and the Italian will take over Brazil in time for the Copa America, which will be held in the United States from June 2024.
The former AC Milan and Chelsea manager will become the first foreigner to coach Brazil in almost 60 years.
The last foreign coach of Brazil was Argentinian Filpo Nunez who was in charge for one game in 1965. Before that, Uruguayan Ramon Platero held the position in 1925 while Portugal’s Jorge Gomes de Lima coached the Selecao alongside Brazilian Flavio Costa in 1944.
Among his many successes, the 64-year-old Ancelotti has won the Champions League twice each with AC Milan and Real Madrid. He has also won domestic league titles in England (with Chelsea), Germany (with Bayern Munich), France (with Paris Saint-Germain), Spain (with Real) and Italy (with Milan).
Brazil were coached by Tite at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but he stood down from the role after their quarter-final elimination by Croatia.
The five-time world champions have been handle by Under-20 coach Ramon Menezes in recent friendlies against African teams.
The CBF had earlier issued a statement saying that Diniz would be in charge of the team for the coming year.
“I have followed Fernando Diniz’s career since the beginning and I believe that he is part of a new and promising generation of coaches that is making an impact in Brazil,” Rodrigues said. “I admire his way of seeing football, which resembles the style of the most important coaches in the world.”
Diniz said: “It is a dream, an honour and a huge pride to serve the national team.”
The 49-year-old will be in charge of the six South American qualifying games for the 2026 World Cup that will be played in 2023, including the clashes with Argentina and Uruguay.
Brazil will start their qualifying campaign in September at home against Bolivia. AFP, REUTERS
