Ancelotti remains Brazil’s best option – president
real Madrid Coach Carlo Ancelotti remains BrazilIt is the first choice to replace Tite, said Ednaldo Rodrigues, president of the country’s Football Federation (CBF).
Despite strong interest from Brazil since Tite’s retirement after 2022 World Championship, Ancelotti repeated his desire to continue as Real Madrid coach until June 2024 when his contract expires.
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“He [Ancelotti] is a coach who has that vision and the courage to bring new talent to bear,” said Rodrigues.
“No disrespect to other coaches. Brazil has a lot of coaches that we respect and who are competent, but we have a plan and Plan A is exactly that.” [Ancelotti].”
Ancelotti led Madrid to the Copa del Rey title this season, despite missing out on it LaLiga title and also failed in the Champions League after being eliminated in the semi-finals Manchester City.
Rodrigues remains optimistic that he can convince Ancelotti to take over the national team.
“We have a feeling it can work,” Rodrigues said. “Let’s wait for the end of the competition [LaLiga]although there is already a champion, Barcelona. But we will wait until the competition is over and we have the feeling that it can work.”
Rodrigues said he understood Ancelotti’s contract situation but knew the Italy boss was an admirer of it Canarinha. The Madrid coach is already coaching Brazil’s attacking pair Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior at the Bernabeu.
“If I were in his place and had a valid contract, I wouldn’t disparage the company I was hired for either,” he said. “I think he has a fondness for the Brazilian national team, he knows most of the players who have played and are still playing for the Brazilian national team.”
Rodrigues expects to have a clearer idea of who the next Brazil manager will be in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the CBF relies on Brazil’s U20 coach Ramon Menezes as interim coach.
Menezes appointed a 23-man squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Guinea on June 17 and Senegal three days later.
“We hope that right after these games in June, but still in June, we will have a clearer position and be able to speak on better terms,” he said.
CBF is also keeping an eye on other Brazil-based coaches such as Palmeiras’ Abel Ferreira, Fluminense’s Fernando Diniz and Sao Paulo’s Dorival Junior as possible alternatives should they fail to attract Ancelotti.
“The coach will be the one that CBF understands is the best for the cycle,” said Rodrigues. “And this cycle isn’t just about competing in the World Cup. It’s about winning the World Cup.” [2026] World Championship.”
Brazil has not won the World Cup since 2002.
