With Carlo Ancelotti, the Seleção finally gets the national coach they have long wanted

On Sunday in Barcelona's Clásico, Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti and his striker Vinícius Júnior engaged in a somewhat opaque exchange. After conceding the first three of Real Madrid's four goals in the 4-3 defeat, the coach attempted to impart tactical corrections to the seemingly apathetic left winger. By the fourth, he had already given up—it was no use anyway. "Vini" and Real largely delivered a performance that showed all the signs of wear and tear of an era's end.

Twenty-four hours later, the end of the Ancelotti era was officially announced. Contrary to usual practice, however, it wasn't Real Madrid itself that announced the parting of ways with the most successful coach in the club's history. The decision was made by the CBF (Central Football Federation) of Vinícius's home country of Brazil – where Ancelotti will begin as national coach in just two weeks.

It's a historic moment: for the first time in its history, the record world champions have hired a European as their sole head coach. The CBF had wanted to sign the Italian for years, almost reaching its goal in 2023, but were ultimately rejected. "Carletto" preferred to first win another Champions League title in Madrid: his fifth after 2003 and 2007 (both with AC Milan), as well as 2014 and 2022. No other coach has more than three. And no other has managed to win the title in all five major European leagues like Ancelotti with Milan, Real Madrid, Chelsea, PSG, and FC Bayern.

"The greatest coach in history now leads the greatest national team," declared CBF President Ednaldo Rodrigues, a correspondingly unctuous "statement to the world that we are determined to reclaim the top spot on the podium." Brazil is emerging from a long crisis: Since winning its fifth World Cup title in 2002, it has strung out five consecutive unsuccessful World Cup tournaments.

The commitment of "Antselotschi," as the Brazilians pronounce the surname of their new national coach, is therefore also the painful admission of a proud football nation: local coaches have so far been unable to regenerate the Seleção after the 1:7 defeat against Germany at the 2014 World Cup in their home country.

In the past two and a half years alone, three coaches have been worn out: Ramon Menezes, Fernando Diniz, and Dorival Júnior. Only thanks to the expansion of the World Cup field to 48 nations and 6.5 starting places for ten South American countries is Brazil halfway on track in the current World Cup qualifiers. In March, the helpless 4-1 defeat in Argentina resulted in the "worst defeat since the 7-1," as the sports newspaper "Lance" headlined. "We have to rethink everything; change is needed," Vinícius demanded after the revelation against their archrivals.

Now the Seleção finally has the coach for whom Brazilian Real Madrid players like striker Rodrygo, central defender Eder Militão, and "Vini" have been lobbying for years. Under Ancelotti's insightful coaching, Vinícius advanced from a volatile waste of chances to, at times, the best attacker on the planet, FIFA World Player of the Year, and runner-up for the 2023/2024 Ballon d'Or . With the national team, however, his record so far is meager, with six goals in 39 international matches.

It's also logical that a star coach from the Old Continent is now being unleashed on the "Vini Generation" for the first time, given that Brazilian stars are now barely familiar with any other football than European. Vinícius and Rodrygo, like their compatriot Endrick, moved to Madrid at 18; Raphinha from FC Barcelona, ​​a candidate for the next Ballon d'Or, left for Portugal at 19. And so on. Brazil has a surplus of attacking wingers, but lacks a world-class center forward.

Above all, Brazil lacks exceptional full-backs and midfielders. And so, the washed-up Neymar remains the team's great hope, even though he's reeling from injury after an initially promising return to his boyhood club, Santos FC . According to O Globo, his influence remains so great that he managed to thwart rival coaching candidate Jorge Jesus—the Portuguese had dismissed him at al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. The CBF has strenuously denied this, and many experts in the country remain convinced that Brazil needs its record goalscorer and leader not just for marketing purposes, but that without Neymar, they can't even dream of winning a World Cup.

Given the current situation, Ancelotti, who is expected to earn around ten million euros a year, will be able to make good use of his extensive experience from various European countries and leagues. Despite all the setbacks, Brazil remains far from humble. CBF chairman Rodrigues called the day the coach was announced "the first step toward a sixth World Cup title."

The coup also comes at a time when Rodrigues is under pressure from the judiciary. Brazil's Supreme Federal Court has ordered the reopening of proceedings concerning the legality of his CBF presidency, in which the official was already provisionally removed from office around the turn of the year 2023/24. Among other things, there is suspicion of signature forgery.

The trial is scheduled to continue on May 28, which likely explains the haste in signing Ancelotti. The Italian strategist is coming as a "lifeline" and "smokescreen" for the beleaguered Rodrigues, wrote renowned columnist Juca Kfouri, who considered former Flamengo coach Jesus a better choice due to his knowledge of the Brazilian league. On May 26, the Italian will announce his first squad for the World Cup qualifiers in June.

Real Madrid's final league game is scheduled for the day before, meaning Ancelotti's departure will be the latest. On Saturday, the coach spoke of a "honeymoon until the very end" to define his love affair with Real – but no relationship at the Royal Club has yet survived the poison of failure.

After the Champions League quarter-final exit against Arsenal, Ancelotti was under heavy pressure, and the defeat in the Spanish Cup final against Barcelona served as the club's final punishment. And the latest defeat against their arch-rivals on Sunday, which ended their last chance of winning the league title, precipitated the departure.

Ancelotti leaves as the most decorated coach in club history, with 15 titles. But now also the only coach to ever lose all four Clásicos in a single season. His successor will most likely be former Real Madrid player Xabi Alonso, who is leaving Leverkusen.