Brazil has had trouble finding a permanent coach since the Qatar World Cup. They had a short break when Dorival Jr. was named head coach, but poor performances in the World Cup qualifiers led to his exit. Now, Brazil has been without a coach for 22 days. Their top choice is Real Madrid’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, but that plan is still uncertain.
Brazil’s national football team won’t be without a coach for much longer. With two World Cup qualifying matches in June, they must send their preliminary squad list to FIFA a few days before the games. That gives Brazil about a month to find a new coach and handle the necessary preparations.
Many news reports say that Carlo Ancelotti has shown interest in coaching Brazil. However, both sides need to be realistic. Real Madrid, Ancelotti’s current team, is still finishing its season, where major trophies are usually decided. Although Real Madrid, who have won the Champions League 15 times, were recently knocked out in the quarterfinals, raising rumors that Ancelotti’s time there might be ending. Some reports suggest that April 26 could be the key date for a decision.
According to a source close to Carlo Ancelotti, The Athletic reported that the coach might talk about his future with Real Madrid after the Copa del Rey final on April 26. That match, which is between Real Madrid and Barcelona, will take place at 2 am Bangladesh time on April 27. It will be another big El Clasico with a trophy on the line. Ancelotti’s future at the club could depend on this game, even though he still has a year left on his contract.
There is still some doubt whether Real Madrid would let go of a coach who has helped them win many trophies, especially in the middle of the season. Though they lost the Spanish Super Cup and are behind Barcelona in La Liga, and have also been knocked out of the Champions League, they still have the Club World Cup in June. Changing coaches before such a major tournament could hurt the team. On the other hand, if Brazil waits for the La Liga season to end (around May 25), it might be too late for them to prepare.
Brazilian news outlet Globo said that FIFA needs a provisional team list by May 18 for the upcoming matches. But the coach may not have approved the squad by then. If there’s no coach in place, the CBF president Ednaldo Rodriguez or team officials like Rodrigo Cayetano, Juan, or Ramon Menezes can sign off on the list. This means Brazil has until June 2 to finalize things. The team is set to play World Cup qualifying matches—against Ecuador on June 5 (June 4 in Bangladesh) and Paraguay on June 10 (June 9). A new coach must be officially named before those games.
Two coaches are considering alternatives
Brazil is looking at two other options for head coach if they can’t get Ancelotti before the deadline. Jorge Jesus, who coaches Al-Hilal, is currently the top choice. They’re also talking with Abel Ferreira, who manages a team in the Brazilian league, according to Globo. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) said two weeks ago that they would name a new coach soon. But now, they are waiting for the deadline, watching the situation in Madrid closely, and trying to figure out the best plan.
