Shocking changes of the Brazilian team

Brazilian football history has seen for the first time a foreign coach given the task of leading the "Selecao" long-term.

Decision to break the rules

A year before the 2026 World Cup, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) decided to appoint Carlo Ancelotti as the head coach of the national team. The position had been vacant since March when coach Dorival Junior was fired immediately after the shocking 1-4 defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Argentina in the World Cup qualifiers.

The 66-year-old Italian coach was contacted by the CBF since 2023, but he refused because he wanted to stay with Real Madrid until the end of his contract in June 2026. However, after Real Madrid was eliminated from the Champions League and faced a trophyless season, the Royal team's leadership decided to let Ancelotti leave early.

Thay đổi sốc của tuyển Brazil- Ảnh 1. — Coach Carlo Ancelotti will officially lead the Brazilian team in the June World Cup qualifiers (Photo: CBF)

CBF and coach Ancelotti have agreed to sign a contract that will last until after the 2026 World Cup. Many experts expressed surprise when Brazil decided to break the rules, handing over the leadership of the yellow-green army to a foreign "captain" for the first time. They cited the fact that the French, Italian or German teams have never had a foreign coach. However, the majority of opinions from the Brazilian football community supported the appointment of Ancelotti.

CBF President E. Rodrigues stated frankly: "This is not only a strategic decision, but Brazil wants to declare to world football its determination to regain the highest position. He is a coach with a proven track record through championships in the top 5 European national leagues and 5 Champions League trophies with AC Milan and Real Madrid. Together we will write new glorious chapters for Brazilian football."

Regain glory

Brazil needs an experienced, seasoned and winning captain like Ancelotti to revive a declining "Selecao".

Even though English football is famously conservative, in recent decades it has opened its arms to welcome experts like Sven Goran Erikson (Sweden), Fabio Capello (Italy) and now Thomas Tuchel (Germany), so it is not surprising that the Brazilian team has a foreign coach.

Modern football in many countries is run on a corporate or corporate model, where any position can be hired, as long as it is highly effective!

The CBF's choice of a European coach is to hope that Mr. Ancelotti's understanding will help the Brazilian team erase the curse of always losing to opponents from the old continent in the important knockout stage: 0-1 against France in the quarter-finals in 2006, 1-2 against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals in 2010, 1-7 against Germany in the semi-finals of the tournament in 2014 right at home, 1-2 against Belgium in the quarter-finals in 2018 and losing to Croatia in the quarter-finals in 2022 after a penalty shootout.

"Carletto" with his impressive achievements and calm management and coaching style, promoting creativity in the attack but still paying attention to investing in the defense, seems to be capable of bringing Brazil back to glory after nearly a quarter of a century.

A series of agreements including a record salary of 10 million euros/season, a bonus of 5 million euros if Brazil wins the World Cup or a private jet to travel around Europe... are the Italian coach's benefits, enough to make his colleagues envious.

Coach Ancelotti is expected to announce the list of the Brazilian team on May 26 to prepare for the two 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Ecuador (away, June 6) and Paraguay (home, June 10).

Coach Ramón Platero (Uruguay) worked with the Brazilian team at the South American Championship (the precursor to the Copa America) in 1925, in just 19 days and 4 matches. Coach Joreca (Portugal) led the Brazilian team with coach Flavio Costa (Brazil) in 2 friendly matches against Uruguay in 1944. In 1965, coach Filpo Nuñez (Argentina) coached Brazil for... 1 day to play a friendly against Uruguay at the inauguration of the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte.