‘Brazilian coaches capable of leading Selecao’

Brazil does not need foreigners to coach its national football team, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Tuesday following the appointment of Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti to head the Selecao. 

Italian manager Ancelotti on Monday became the first non-Brazilian since 1925 to take full-time charge of Brazil’s national team. 

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“Honestly, I have nothing against him being a foreigner… What I think is that we have coaches in Brazil capable of leading the Selecao,” Lula told journalists. 

A football enthusiast, Lula had expressed skepticism in the past about the potential appointment of Ancelotti, which had been on the cards for years. “He has never been Italy’s national coach. Why does he not resolve the problems of Italy, which did not even qualify for the 2022 World Cup?” the President had said in 2023. 

On Tuesday, he described Ancelotti as a ‘great technician’ and said he hoped the Italian can help Brazil  win  the World Cup next year. 

Brazil are placed fourth in the South American qualifying phase for the 2026 World Cup that will be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico. They have 21 points from 14 matches. Only the top six South American teams will qualify for the  event.

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