Julius OkorieRespected Italian coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has described his exploits with Real Madrid as an adventure in which he had a good time.
In what could pass for a stock taking exercise, Ancelotti in a Press Conference coming after the team’s latest El-Classico loss to Barcelona, compared football to life, which he dubbed an adventure. The parley is also coming following his appointment as new coach of Brazil national team.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“Football, like life, is an adventure that begins and ends,” Ancelotti said. “A very nice period is coming to an end. I’ve had a great time.”
Ancelotti, who has led the club to an impressive haul of 11 trophies in four years during his current spell, confirmed that he will take over as Brazil’s national coach starting May 26, 2025.
He, however, insisted that the focus now is not on his new appointment but on finishing the race with Real Madrid, adding “I will be a Madridista for the rest of my life.”
But for now, his focus remains squarely on finishing strong with Madrid. “I want to end it well,” he emphasised. “For the respect I have for this club and this fan base, I am focused on this last stretch of this spectacular adventure.”
Despite the lack of an official statement from Real Madrid regarding his departure, Ancelotti brushed aside any rumours of discord. “Madrid will release the statement when they want. There is no problem at all,” he said.
The 65-year-old former PSG and Bayern Munich Coach, who is being engaged by Brazil at a critical moment when their qualification for the World Cup appears to be hanging on the balance, dismissed submissions that he will be under pressure.
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When asked about how he feels about leaving Real Madrid, Ancelotti said, “There’s no frustration at all. If you told me I was going to win 11 titles in four years, I would sign it in blood.”
Looking ahead, Ancelotti gave a nod to potential successor Xabi Alonso, saying, “I don’t have any advice. He has all the tools to be a great coach.”
In the coming days, Real Madrid still have important fixtures, and Ancelotti’s focus remains locked on ending his reign with dignity and determination. “We don’t want to give the league away. We want to do well and finish a difficult season strong,” he said.
Despite the looming transition, Ancelotti is not ready to fully embrace his future role with Brazil. “I have the shirt of Madrid until the 25th,” he said. “Because I respect this shirt very much.” I want to respect it until the last day. A thousand thanks to this club. I will be a Madridista for the rest of my life,” he submitted
A New Chapter For Ancelotti:
Ancelotti will be the first foreign Coach to be officially appointed by Brazil, although it will not be the first time a foreign coach has taken charge of Brazil national team.
It has happened before, but only on an interim basis, when Portuguese Joreca took charge of the team for two matches against Uruguay in 1944, though it was an arrangement that saw him co-manage the side with Flavio Costa. They won both of their matches.
Ancelotti’s appointment is a new page in his coaching career.
Throughout an illustrious career that has seen him manage – and win titles with – clubs in Italy, Spain, England, France and Germany, he has never taken charge of a national team.
Brazil’s World Cup qualification campaign got off to a good start, but they were unable to maintain their early momentum as they had to deal with a number of notable absentees through injury – particularly Neymar.
They have suffered some historic defeats during this campaign but, with 21 points, they currently sit fourth on the table.
Ancelotti’s first objective in his new role, will be to secure Brazil’s qualification for the World Cup. If, and when, qualification is confirmed, after his four years in Madrid, the head coach will have to familiarise himself with his new surroundings and start preparations, with the World Cup set to start on 11 June 2026.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
