Brazil appointed a foreign coach as its official head coach for the first time in history. The protagonist is none other than Carlo Ancelotti (66).

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) officially announced through its official channel on the 12th (Korea time) that "Coach Ancelotti will join the Brazilian national team immediately after finishing Real Madrid's final match of the season." The contract is valid until the 2026 North and Central America World Cup. Excluding the single match handled by Argentine coach Philip Nunes in 1965, this marks the first time a foreign coach has taken the reins in Brazil's history.

Recently, Brazil was in crisis. The reputation as the "eternal favorite for victory" was no longer absolute. It has been 24 years since winning the World Cup after the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup. After suffering a 1-7 defeat to Germany in the 2014 World Cup held in its own country, a jinx emerged where Brazil was eliminated whenever facing European teams.

Even in the ongoing 2026 North and Central America World Cup South American qualifiers, Brazil remains in fourth place with 6 wins, 3 draws, and 5 losses. Right after losing 1-4 to rival Argentina in March, Brazil recognized the limitations of its domestic leadership system by dismissing coach Dorival Junior.

The path chosen by the CBF was a bold move to entrust its fate to a European master. Brazil contacted several renowned coaches, including taxes Mourinho, Pep Guardiola, and Jürgen Klopp, but Ancelotti was always the top priority. Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, emphasized, "The acquisition of Ancelotti is more than just a strategy. It is a strong declaration that we will return to the top of the world."

Coach Ancelotti's career is illustrious. He is the first coach to have conquered all five major European leagues with AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid. Notably, he holds the record for the most victories in the UEFA Champions League, winning a total of five times (twice with AC Milan and three times with Real Madrid). He is recognized not only for his reputation as a strategist but also for maximizing the abilities of individual players and his skill in emotional management.

What Brazil expects from Coach Ancelotti is not just victory titles. Recently, Brazil has always fallen against European teams in World Cup tournaments and has shown instability even in regional qualifiers. Coach Ancelotti is expected to quickly find stability by coordinating once again with key Brazilian national players such as Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Éder Militão, with whom he played at Real Madrid. He is also expected to play a pivotal role as a mental anchor for the national team.

The process leading to Coach Ancelotti's appointment was not smooth. Although his move to Brazil seemed likely, reports surfaced last month that negotiations broke down due to a penalty issue and a hefty offer from Saudi Arabia. Ultimately, after Real Madrid decided on Xabi Alonso as the new coach for Bayer Leverkusen, the situation changed rapidly, leading to Coach Ancelotti's final acceptance to join the Brazilian national team.

Coach Ancelotti will officially take charge on May 26 and will have his debut match in an away game against Ecuador in the South American qualifiers on June 6. His home debut is scheduled for June 11 against Paraguay.

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