CBF President reveals Brazil's top managerial target

The president of Brazil’s football federation has spoken of his search for the next national team coach.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is still the top pick to become the next head coach of Brazil’s national team, according to Ednaldo Rodrigues, the president of the Brazilian football confederation (CBF).

The record five-time world champions remain managerless since Tite’s departure at the end of the 2022 World Cup.

That said, while Ancelotti is Brazil’s preferred target, the 63-year-old Italian has reaffirmed his commitment to continue coaching Real Madrid until his contract expires in June 2024.

“He [Ancelotti] is a coach who has this vision and courage to put new talents to play,” Rodrigues said as quoted on ESPN.

“No disrespect to any other coach. Brazil has many coaches that we have great appreciation for, and who are competent, but we have a plan. Plan A is exactly that [Ancelotti].”

Rodrigues added: “We have the feeling that it can work. Let’s wait for the end of the competition [LaLiga]. I think he has an enchantment for the Brazilian national team, he knows most of the players who played and who still play for the Brazilian national team.”

Ancelotti coaches two players from the Brazil team at Real Madrid, Rodrygo Goes and Vinicius Junior.

Despite falling short in both the LaLiga title race and the Champions League, the Italian guided the Spanish giants to a triumph in the Copa del Rey this season.

The club’s president, Florentino Perez, said he expects Ancelotti to stay after winning the Copa del Rey earlier this month, giving him a vote of confidence.

As for Brazil, Ramon Menezes will be in charge of the Selecao on an interim basis. The under-20 coach has named his 23-man squad for the upcoming friendlies against Guinea (June 17) and Senegal (June 20).