Brazil pursues Ancelotti to the end

Brazil The Brazilian national team is ready to wait until Carlo Ancelotti's contract with Real Madrid ends in June 2024 to invite him to become head coach.

This week, Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) President Ednaldo Rodrigues will meet with coach Carlo Ancelotti or his representative. He does not rule out the possibility of waiting until Ancelotti's contract with Real Madrid expires in June 2024 to appoint the Italian coach to lead the five-time world champion team.

"In that case, I have to listen to the board members and the players," Rodrigues said on June 13. "But we have a clear objective and we will pursue it."

Ancelotti and Real stopped in the Champions League semi-finals when they lost 1-5 on aggregate to Man City on May 17. Photo: Reuters — Ancelotti and Real stopped in the Champions League semi-finals when they lost 1-5 on aggregate to Man City on May 17. Photo: *Reuters*

Rodrigues considers Ancelotti one of the best coaches in the world. He appreciates the Italian's character and winning experience, but also his compatibility with the majority of Brazil's players. "Ancelotti is a great team manager," Rodrigues added. "The players he has coached always remember him, and the young players want to be coached by him."

Brazil have yet to appoint a coach after the 2022 World Cup. Former coach Tite resigned after the team was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the tournament, losing to Croatia on penalties. In March, Rodrigues said he was ready to appoint Ancelotti if Real agreed to terminate his contract.

The last time Brazil won the world championship was in 2002. They have gone five consecutive World Cups without a trophy, equaling the longest wait in history from 1970 to 1994. However, Brazil still holds the record of five championships, one more than Germany and Italy.

Defending champions Argentina have three titles, while France and Uruguay are behind with two each. Spain and England have one each.

Ancelotti is the most successful coach in Champions League history. He won four titles with AC Milan in 2003, 2007, and Real Madrid in 2014 and 2022. Bob Paisley, Zinedine Zidane and Pep Guardiola are next with three titles each.

Ancelotti has also won national championships in five different countries: Italy, England, France, Germany and Spain. He has never managed his home country Italy. That position now belongs to Roberto Mancini, who led the "Blue Army" to the Euro 2021 championship.

Thanh Quy (according to ESPN )

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