Michael Kenrick 12/05/2025 27comments  |  Jump to last

Carlo Ancelotti, who was the last Everton manager to see them atop the Premier League before it all went sour for him on Merseyside, has agreed to take over as head coach of the Brazil national team.

For a team so deeply tied to the nation's 'beautiful game' identity, the decision to bring in a foreign coach — one of Europe's elite — signals a desperation to win and an ambition for the struggling Selecao to turn a corner.

"Ancelotti was the main choice because he has an unrivalled tradition of success, winning in five countries," said South American football expert Tim Vickery.

Brazil have not won the World Cup since they did it for the fifth time in 2002, and their recent exits have been painful signals of decline. The most dismal came in 2014, when Brazil, hosting the World Cup, were humiliated 7-1 by Germany in the semi-finals.

Belgium got the better of Brazil in a 2018 quarter-final, while 2022 trophy hopes were dashed by defeat to Croatia on penalties in the last eight.

"Every campaign since 2002 has ended as soon as the side has come up against a European team in the knockout stages," said Vickery.

"It's become a hoodoo they want to overcome and another reason they've gone with a European coach this time round. They're saying 'if we want to beat them next time round, we need someone who knows them'."

Ancelotti's Brazilian adventure will officially begin on 26 May, as the 65-year-old Italian ends his stint at Real Madrid, where Xabi Alonso is expected to be his successor.

Vickery said: "We were hearing last year that the senior players weren't sold on Dorival Junior, but there will be none of that with Carlo Ancelotti. He has instant credibility in the dressing room."

Quotes sourced from BBC Sport

Reader Comments (27)

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer ()


Michael Kenrick
1 Posted 12/05/2025 at 18:57:47
Way to go, Carlo. This will be very interesting to watch.

But then I'm an unashamed fan of the Great Man. Unlike many on here who can only trash-talk possibly the greatest football manager of all time.

Rob Halligan
2 Posted 12/05/2025 at 19:05:19
Who’d have thought it, Brazil appointing a dinosaur as their new manager.
Billy Shears
3 Posted 12/05/2025 at 19:20:05
Another shithouse manager...how about helping a struggling lower league club in Italy nah,no fucking money in it for you.

Greedy Fucker!!!

Dale Self
4 Posted 12/05/2025 at 19:21:09
Brazil at 6/1 Argentina 8/1
World Cup odds, the Carlo effect
Brendan McLaughlin
5 Posted 12/05/2025 at 19:22:58
Apparently Carlo insisted a clause be inserted in his contract that if Everton come calling...
Danny O'Neill
6 Posted 12/05/2025 at 19:29:17
Carlo Fantastico, Carlo Magnifico Ole Ole. I still remember that at Watford away as he came towards the away end.

Brazil appointing a 60-plus "busted flush" as their manager.

Good luck to him and hopefully he can spread the good word about Everton to his squad of players.

Rob Halligan
7 Posted 12/05/2025 at 19:31:05
Ricky a guaranteed starter now!
Danny O'Neill
8 Posted 12/05/2025 at 19:31:58
In fairness, Billy, his first job was at Reggiana in the Italian Serie B (2nd tier).

He got them promoted to Seria A.

Ryan Holroyd
9 Posted 12/05/2025 at 19:33:47
Carlo has never retained a league title in his career
Danny O'Neill
10 Posted 12/05/2025 at 19:37:10
The most successful manager in European football.

Serial winner.

29 trophies (30 if you include a Charity / Community Shield).

And that's just as a manager before you start on his playing achievements.

Pete Neilson
11 Posted 12/05/2025 at 19:37:24
For me the best summing up of Ancelotti Link

The idea that he signed a contract without his agent and lawyer(s) understanding the shocking financial state of our club is unbelievable. It was common knowledge. Yet another who was happy to bleed us dry under inept Moshiri. We didn’t know him.

Christy Ring
12 Posted 12/05/2025 at 19:51:40
A brilliant signing by Brazil, the most successful manager in European History, and a superb footballer with the great AC Milan team. Why all the bitterness, a true gentleman who still praises our club, he left us to go back to Real Madrid, a no brainer, especially as he could see what he was dealing with in our boardroom at the time. Richi the new captain.
Danny O'Neill
13 Posted 12/05/2025 at 20:01:39
I part agree with you Pete @11. He walked into a club that, probably like a few before him, didn't realise the shit show hidden under the carpets.

I don't think he bled us dry and don't believe money was a motivator for him.

Depending on what sources we believe, he was reportedly on about £12-13M a year.

Our current manager is said to be on £12.5M a year. Only Guardiola and Arteta rank above him. Again, caveat that with us not really knowing the detail.

Kevin Molloy
14 Posted 12/05/2025 at 20:32:25
he said he wasn't a magician but I'm not so sure. two mid table finishes in 18 months, but he left us for Real Madrid with twenty million quid (having sued us for his win bonus). He'd say spell words like 'Crosby' and we thought we'd won the league.
let it not be said he concentrated on himself, though, he gave Michael Keane and Mason Holgate twenty million quid contracts, signed the Italian fella for another twenty, and gave James a million quid a month. If we had have gone bust, I think jumping to Carlo would in hindsight have been the straw that broke the camel's back.
Martin Mason
15 Posted 12/05/2025 at 20:41:18
Never again.
Jerome Shields
16 Posted 12/05/2025 at 20:44:28
I thought Ancelotti was one of the best managers Everton ever had.

Unfortunately, Everton were a basket case both on and off the pitch. Even he suffered a go-slow from Finch Farm and European Competition was not wanted.

PSR Rules were more than enough, with FFP Rules.

Danny O'Neill
17 Posted 12/05/2025 at 20:54:13
Kevin, he always gets slated for that 10th or 11th place finish (I can't remember which without looking).

But on the last day of the season, we could still have qualified for Europe. Sod's Law, we were playing Manchester City as our final fixture.

His record speaks for itself. Unfortunately, Everton wasn't the club for him at the time. And he recognised that fairly quickly. I don't hold a grudge against him.

Robert Tressell
18 Posted 12/05/2025 at 20:54:36
I think his spell at the club highlights just what a poor squad of players we had even then. He is clearly a brilliant manager.

Had we backed him financially we'd have won silverware and had Champions League runs.

Not to be. Moshiri pulled the plug and a pretty average squad deteriorated rapidly — while others started spending the big TV money that started coming through.

There's a lot of work to do this summer. Moyes is a sensible choice to oversee it all for the next couple of years.

Colin Crooks
19 Posted 12/05/2025 at 21:32:38
Interview with Moshiri on sky now
Ian Bennett
20 Posted 12/05/2025 at 21:32:47
I thought his post Christmas period was telling. How hard it was for him to get a performance from a group of players he called two faced, admittedly during covid.

For me he has been probably the most successful club manager in modern history. Some of his sides have been quite exceptional.

But he couldn't get consistency from far better players than we have now. Quite how some expect other managers to get better performances raises an eyebrow.

Joe McMahon
21 Posted 12/05/2025 at 21:40:26
Davide Ancelotti, going to Rangers?
Paul Kernot
22 Posted 12/05/2025 at 21:53:25
Wasn't there a Brazilian player named Everton a while ago? He'll be in the squad surely.
Colin Crooks
23 Posted 12/05/2025 at 21:56:05
Didn't inherit world class players like he had in previous jobs. Had to build his own side here. He knew that when he signed, but he failed quite miserably. Realised he wasn't up to building his own team without superstars and fucked off leaving a team in free fall.

Barely mustering a shot at home in most of our games, he repeatedly set up defensively against inferior teams. Took a 20m fortune and gave jobs to half his family.

Yet the excuses for the shambolic job he did still mount up to this day.

"Sods law we were playing Man City in our final game". Difficult to know whether to laugh or cry.

Ryan Holroyd
24 Posted 12/05/2025 at 21:57:12
Absolutely no chance Moyes is on 12.5m a year

Why is this nonsense being spouted?

Does anyone have a link to this claim?

Ryan Holroyd
25 Posted 12/05/2025 at 22:01:50
Colin Crooks. Totally agree with you.

Remember when he let James fly home on the day of the city game.

The man bled Everton dry and left us with players on stupid wages

Danny O'Neill
26 Posted 12/05/2025 at 22:15:07
How do we know he bled the club dry?

He was obviously going to be on high wages.

Colin, it's a mathematical fact we could have qualified for European football on the last day. The club at the time couldn't accommodate him.

Comment on his record as a player and manager. It is second to none.

In fairness Ryan, Moyes is on £5M a year. £12.5M over the course of his potential contract.

Very Everton that we are dismissing one of the greatest European managers to date as a money grabbing mercenary.

What's your view on his achievements in football Colin and Ryan??

I love how opinions are dismissed as nonsense. I always try to understand where people are coming from, even if I dont agree with them.

Brendan McLaughlin
27 Posted 12/05/2025 at 22:16:33
Ryan #25

Can't get the link to copy but if you google... Irish Independent, L'Equipe and highest paid premier league managers.

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.


How to get rid of these ads and support TW

© ToffeeWeb