Carlo Ancelotti's preferred job after 'expected' Real Madrid exit revealed

Carlo Ancelotti is "expected to leave" his position as Real Madrid coach for the second time when the season draws to a close.

Despite delivering Champions League titles in two of his four seasons at the Bernabeu since returning in 2021, Ancelotti has come under intense pressure in recent weeks due to Madrid falling behind in La Liga's title race and being knocked out of Europe at the quarter-final stage.

Ancelotti still has another year left on the contract he signed at the end of 2023, but the Italian has previously paid the price for slipping below Madrid's standards. He was sacked once before, in 2015, just 12 months after delivering a tenth European crown that had eluded the club for 12 years.

The Athletic report that Ancelotti is on course to leave his current job. But while there is an option to remain with the Spanish giants in a "non-managerial" role, his "most likely destination" is considered to be Brazil to take over as new national team boss.

The job recently became available when Dorival Junior was dismissed following underwhelming World Cup qualifying results. Brazil sit fourth in the standings, not in genuine danger of missing out on the tournament for the first time, but ten points adrift of leaders and fierce rivals Argentina.

Brazil’s football federation (CBF) made no secret of their admiration of Ancelotti in a very public pursuit in 2023, prior to him pledging his future to Real Madrid. But now that his loyalty hasn't exactly been repaid, he looks set to accept the Brazil job after all.

Brazil are reported as wanting a new head coach in place before the next set of international fixtures in June, which could see Ancelotti very quickly go from Spain to Rio de Janeiro.

That would mean Madrid not going into the FIFA Club World Cup with Ancelotti at the helm. The club has been heavily linked with former player Xabi Alonso, who has made his coaching reputation in Germany. But Bayer Leverkusen are confident he won't leave just yet, nor would it be cheap.

Links with ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp have also emerged recently. Having taken a different kind of role within Red Bull’s wider football operation, he is reported to have grown fed up with life away from daily coaching and management, and is therefore interested in joining Madrid.

For Ancelotti, taking charge of Brazil would mark a return to international football for the first time in 30 years. When his playing career ended in 1992, he was invited onto the staff of Italy boss Arrigo Sacchi, having enjoyed great success under the legendary coach at AC Milan, and was an assistant at the 1994 World Cup when the Azzurri were losing finalists – ironically against Brazil.

In Brazil, as in Madrid, expectations are sky high. By the time of the World Cup, it will be 24 years since the football-obsessed country last lifted the trophy and therefore the joint longest drought the Selecao have endured since a first title in 1958. The previous longest gap between triumphs was 24 years from 1970 to 1994. Italy, Spain, Germany, France and Argentina have all won since 2002.

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