Carlo Ancelotti Arrives In Brazil From Real Madrid To Begin New Chapter As National Team Coach; Video

Carlo Ancelotti landed in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday night to officially begin his role as head coach of the Brazilian national team. Greeted by fans at the airport, the Italian was later seen at a hotel in Barra da Tijuca, where he met with Rodrigo Caetano, director of Brazil’s national teams, and Samir Xaud, the new president of the Brazilian Football Association (CBF).

Ancelotti’s journey to Brazil drew global attention, with over 15,000 people tracking his flight online. The first job for former Real Madrid manager will be to select the squad for Brazil’s upcoming World Cup qualifiers. The team list will be announced on Monday, followed by his first press conference as Brazil’s coach.

Ancelotti, 65, left Real Madrid earlier than expected despite having a contract until 2026 to take on the challenge of guiding Brazil back to the top. With 15 major trophies won during his time at Madrid, including two Champions Leagues and two La Liga titles, he brings plenty of experience and a winning mentality.

Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior, a key player in Brazil’s future, also returned home after the 2024-25 season and posted a photo from his flight.

What's next for the Brazil national team?

Before Ancelotti, Brazil caretaker coaches Ramon Menezes and Fernando Diniz failed to bring good results and performances, and Dorival Júnior was fired in March after a 4-1 defeat at Argentina.

Ancelotti becomes the first foreign tactician to take the reins of the world's most decorated national team. He arrived alongside his trusted technical staff, including his son and longtime assistant Davide Ancelotti, as well as Paul Clement, a familiar face in Carletto's coaching entourage. There's also buzz about the legendary Brazilian player Kaka potentially joining the fold as a collaborator.

Brazil's next matches are against Ecuador on June 5 in Guayaquil and Paraguay on June 10. Fans are eager to see how quickly Ancelotti can make an impact as the first foreign coach to lead the national team since 1965.