The appointment of Carlo Ancelotti as Brazil coach marks a milestone in the history of South American soccer. The Italian coach, renowned for his successful career with European clubs, becomes the first European coach to take charge of the 'Canarinha' in the modern era. Brazil was coached in 1944 by Portuguese Jorge Gomes de Lima; however, he only coached two friendly matches and had a fleeting spell in the Brazilian dugout.

The appointment of Ancelotti, made official by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), represents a significant change in the tradition of the five-time world champions.

Ancelotti, 65, will leave his position at Real Madrid at the end of the 2024-2025 season to take up his new role with Brazil on May 26, 2025. His initial contract is for one year, with an option to extend, and he is expected to make his debut in the World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador and Paraguay in June. CBF president Ednaldo Rodrigues stressed that the hiring of Ancelotti is a statement of intent to restore Brazilian soccer to world prominence.

Throughout history, several Latin American teams have been coached by European coaches. The following is a list of some of them:

Colombia: Carlos Queiroz (Portugal) coached the Colombian national team between 2019 and 2020. He was the fourth European coach to assume this position, after Friedrich Donnenfeld (Austria), Toza Veselinović (Yugoslavia) and Blagoje Vidinić (Yugoslavia).

Mexico: Antonio López Herranz (Spain) was in charge of the national team in the 1950s and 1960s, including participations in the 1954 and 1958 World Cups.

Peru: Jack Greenwell (England) coached the Peruvian national team in 1938 and led it to win the Copa América that same year.

Guatemala: In the history of Guatemalan soccer, several European coaches have held the position of national coach, including José Antonio Ruiz (Spain) and Walter Claverí (Spain).

Ancelotti's appointment as Brazil's coach not only breaks with a tradition of almost a century, but also reflects the openness of Latin American federations to different approaches and management styles. His experience and track record make him an ideal figure to lead the 'Canarinha' on the road to the 2026 World Cup.

With this decision, Brazil seeks to revitalize its soccer and recover the prominence it has lost in recent years. The arrival of Ancelotti represents an ambitious bet by the CBF, which is confident that the Italian coach can lead the national team to new successes on the international stage.

The soccer community will be watching Ancelotti's performance at the helm of Brazil, because expectations are high and the margin for error is minimal. His ability to adapt to the environment and get the best out of a talented squad will be key in determining the success of this historic collaboration between European and South American soccer.