Ancelotti happy to be the new Brazil head coach and calls the Selecao the ‘best team in the world’ in conference.
Carlo Ancelotti happy and proud to lead the best team in the world”.
At a press conference held at the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) headquarters, the 65-year-old was introduced as Brazil’s manager.
After four years as manager of Real Madrid, the Italian joins the Selecao. During his two stints as manager, he has won the La Liga championship twice and the Champions League three times.
Along with winning the Premier League and FA Cup with Chelsea and the French and German domestic championships with Paris St-Germain and Bayern Munich, respectively, Ancelotti also led AC Milan to two European championships.
“I have a big job ahead of me,” he said. “I’m delighted, the challenge is great. I’ve always had a special connection with this team. We’re going to work to make Brazil champions again.
“I’m honoured and proud to lead the best team in the world.”
Two World Cup qualifiers in South America were Ancelotti’s first games with Brazil, who have won the tournament five times, most recently in 2002.
They go to play Ecuador on June 5 and then play Paraguay at home in Sao Paulo five days later.
Dorival Junior was fired at the end of March after a humiliating 4-1 loss to Argentina, the most recent in a string of bad performances. Ancelotti was greeted by former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari.
With four games remaining, Brazil is currently ranked fourth in the South American World Cup qualifying standings. The top six countries will receive direct qualification to the tournament in the US, Canada, and Mexico.
The team’s troubles started over two years ago when Croatia eliminated them on penalties in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Cup. Since then, they have given up 16 goals in five of their last 14 games.