Davide Ancelotti, son of Brazil national team manager Carlo Ancelotti, is seeking a club management position following the conclusion of the World Cup this summer. The announcement came during an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport’s “Tripletta” podcast, where he discussed his role as Carlo’s assistant with the Seleção and his recent experience as head coach of Botafogo. Brazil announced a preliminary 55-man squad for the tournament yesterday, including Neymar, whose fitness is currently being monitored.
Davide Ancelotti transitioned to his current role with the Brazilian national team in March, after managing Botafogo. He described his time at the Brazilian club as a formative experience, stating it “formed me and made me stronger.” He confirmed he has several proposals on the table but hopes to finalize his next move before the start of the World Cup in June.
Ancelotti highlighted the passion for football within Brazil, noting it surpasses the competitive drive often found in Italy. He emphasized the importance of discipline and set-pieces in preparing for the tournament, while also acknowledging the need to respect the cultural values of joy and humility inherent in Brazilian football. His first footballing memory, he revealed, was watching the 1994 World Cup with his father.
Drawing on his father’s extensive managerial career with clubs like Juventus, Milan, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Napoli, Davide Ancelotti acknowledged the pressure that comes with the role, but framed it as a desirable aspect of the profession. He recounted anecdotes from his father’s time at Real Madrid, including Cristiano Ronaldo requesting an extra training session after enjoying a single glass of champagne following a Ballon d’Or win, and Luka Modric’s frustration when his lucky socks were forgotten for a match.
He also shared a story about his own playing days with AC Milan, recalling a stern rebuke from goalkeeper Valerio Fiori after a disastrous back-pass during a friendly against Dynamo Kyiv, which happened to be the debut game for Alexandre Pato. Ancelotti expressed his long-held affection for Milan and even suggested he would be prepared to manage the club in the future. He also revealed a childhood habit of his father timing how quickly he could put on his pajamas, a tactic to instill a sense of self-challenge and competition.
