Ancelotti as Brazil coach: ‘Identity disintegration’ or the beginning of the road to glory?
May 27, 2025
Ancelotti as Brazil coach: ‘Identity breakthrough’ or the beginning of the road to glory?
Ancelotti as Brazil coach – In an unprecedented move in the history of Brazilian soccer, the Brazilian Football Federation has officially announced the appointment of Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti as technical director of the first team.
He will take up his duties after the end of the current season with Real Madrid Spanish.
The move means that the Seleção will have the first foreign coach in their history at the World Cup finals – should they qualify for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The decision itself shocked many and sparked widespread debate within Brazilian and international sports circles.
Is it a historic moment that reflects a radical change in the philosophy of the Brazilian national team after years of failures, or is it a departure from a deeply rooted football identity?
Accumulated disappointments
Since the last World Cup title in 2002 under local coach Luiz Felipe Scolari
The Brazilian national team has experienced repeated disappointments at the World Cup, having been knocked out of the quarterfinals in four out of five consecutive editions.
His last darkest moment was at the World Cup. Qatar 2022, when they were eliminated on penalties by Croatia in the quarterfinals.
after a disappointing performance despite the star-studded lineup at the time.
These failures were not an aberration, but rather a series of missteps: From falling to France in 2006, to going out against the Netherlands in 2010, to losing to Germany in a historic 7-0 defeat in Brazil in the semifinals in 2014, to being knocked out by Belgium in 2018.
All of which have left Samba fans wondering: Is it time for a radical change?
Is Ancelotti as Brazil coach the answer?
Carlo Ancelotti is one of the most successful coaches in modern soccer history, having won the Champions League four times as a coach.
He has led giants such as AC Milan, Chelsea, PSG, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid.
He is characterized by a flexible management style, a calm personality and a high ability to manage stars and deal with pressure.
The choice of Ancelotti reflects the Brazilian federation’s desire to inject a “European mind” into a team that has long been accused of chaos and a lack of tactical discipline.
But the real question is: Can the Italian cultivate his concepts in a Brazilian soil that is accustomed to playing on technical rhythm and individual skills?
Identity dialectic
Not everyone welcomed the decision.
Former star Rivaldo called the appointment of a foreign coach an “insult” to local coaches, arguing that Brazil still has coaching talent capable of leading the team to the top.
Rivaldo’s comments came before Ancelotti’s appointment, but they reflect the tension surrounding the historic move.
Brazilian soccer legend Ronaldo Nazario, on the other hand, has been a vocal supporter of the idea of a foreign coach.
He even suggested European names to lead the Seleção, such as Pep Guardiola, should he become president of the local federation.
In between, the main question is what the “Brazilian identity” is. Is it under threat, or is it time to break out of the mold in search of victories?
The difficult task of appointing Ancelotti as Brazil coach
Ancelotti will not start from scratch.
Brazil has a plethora of talent scattered across Europe’s top leagues.
Vinicius Junior, Rodrigo, Andreas, Miltau, Casemiro, and others. The issue is not the lack of quality.
It’s the lack of harmony, discipline, and a clear strategy on the pitch.
It seems that the Brazilian federation wanted to use a “shock approach” to change the mentality, starting at the top.
Ancelotti is known to work well in star-studded environments and has a knack for containing pressure and creating a positive atmosphere in the dressing room.
But he also has to deal with a new culture, with unforgiving fans, with boundless passion for the national team, in a country where the value of life is measured by the number of World Cup titles.
Trial and error
This adventure may be more of a gamble than an accurate calculation.
Ancelotti will have to adapt his style of play to suit the Brazilian’s characteristics, while at the same time imposing strict tactical discipline on a squad that has long been plagued by randomness and artistic rebellion.
But history shows that the top teams that have dared to “step outside the box” have made remarkable progress.
As Germany did in 2006 by introducing modern concepts into their soccer program.
Or as France did by adopting a youth project led by Didier Deschamps.
Will Ancelotti succeed as Brazil coach?
Success with Brazil is measured not only by winning the Copa America, but by winning the World Cup.
Anything less is a failure, especially after decades of disappointments.
Therefore, Ancelotti’s eyes will be focused on the World Cup qualifiers and how to prepare a team capable of competing with the big boys in 2026.
While some are counting on him to restore prestige, others fear that Brazil will lose its artistic spirit and historical identity under the weight of strict European tactics.
The decision to appoint Ancelotti as Brazil’s coach carries a lot of meaning.
It is a real challenge for the veteran coach, a golden opportunity to bring the Seleção back to the podium, but also a difficult test of Brazil’s ability to accept change and break out of the cloak of the past.
Will Ancelotti be the right man at the right time, or will Brazil pay the price for an ill-advised gamble? The coming months will hold the answer, and all eyes will be on Coach Carlo.
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