Carlo Ancelotti turns down Italy approach amid Brazil role

Italy’s search for a successor to Gennaro Gattuso has led the federation to some of the biggest names in world football, but Carlo Ancelotti is not expected to be the answer. The current Brazil head coach was approached by Italian officials, only to indicate that he does not intend to leave his role with the national team.

Italy look high in coaching search

The Italian federation is casting a wide net as it weighs its next appointment. Paolo Maldini, now a director at FIGC, acknowledged that the process has included contact with elite candidates, including Pep Guardiola and Ancelotti.

Maldini suggested the timing of an announcement could depend on whether Italy can secure the figure it truly wants, while also making clear that availability is a central issue. He also confirmed that Ancelotti was among the coaches contacted before the federation moved to Guardiola.

The approach underlines the scale of Italy’s ambition. Ancelotti remains one of the most decorated coaches in the modern game, notably as the only manager to have won the Champions League five times, doing so with Milan and Real Madrid.

Ancelotti’s position with Brazil

Ancelotti only moved into international management in May 2025, when he took charge of Brazil. Before that, his coaching career had been built almost entirely in club football, where he had long shown little interest in switching to a national-team role.

That position appears unchanged despite Italy’s interest. According to reports cited in the source material, the Italian federation wanted to understand both Ancelotti’s plans and the financial implications of any early exit from his contract. The response was polite but firm: he thanked them for the contact and warned that he was not planning to leave Brazil.

That stance is significant given that Ancelotti extended his agreement with the Brazilian federation only two months ago, tying him to the role until 2030. Italy’s enquiry came after Brazil’s elimination from this year’s World Cup following a defeat to Norway in the round of 16.

A familiar answer to Italy

This is not the first time Ancelotti has declined the chance to lead his country. He also turned down Italy in 2017, after the national side failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup through the play-offs against Sweden.

At that time, Ancelotti argued that the issues in Italian football ran deeper than the identity of the head coach. His view was that the wider system needed to change, rather than expecting one manager to solve everything alone.

There is, however, a longstanding connection between Ancelotti and the Azzurri setup. Shortly after ending his playing career, he was persuaded by Arrigo Sacchi to join Italy’s coaching staff. From July 1992 to June 1995, he worked as an assistant, a period that included the run to the 1994 World Cup final, where Italy lost to Brazil on penalties.

What comes next

For now, Ancelotti is on holiday in Canada and is expected to return to Brazil in August. The Brazil national team is then due to face Australia in two friendly matches the following month.

That leaves Italy to continue its search elsewhere. The federation has made no secret of wanting a heavyweight appointment, but Ancelotti’s decision means one of the most prestigious names on the market is effectively out of reach.