Carlo Ancelotti Takes Over Brazil National Team
Carlo Ancelotti`s second period managing Real Madrid is officially concluding. He is set to leave the club following their final La Liga fixture of the season on May 25 against Real Sociedad, to take on the Brazil national team role he has long been associated with. His official start date with Brazil is May 26. He will lead the team in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Ecuador on June 7 and Paraguay on June 10, which marks the beginning of their crucial preparations for the 2026 World Cup.
Ancelotti joins a list of high-profile managers who are transitioning from top club roles to national teams in anticipation of the 2026 World Cup. His appointment undoubtedly adds excitement to the tournament, but it also underscores the significant challenge ahead for Brazil. The five-time World Cup champions have appeared somewhat lacking in direction since their quarterfinal elimination by Croatia in the 2022 World Cup. This is reflected in their slow start to the 2026 qualifying campaign, winning only two of their initial six matches, and their quarterfinal exit in last year`s Copa America. The new head coach will be tasked with turning the team`s fortunes around and finally maximizing the potential of their talented attacking players, including Vinicius Junior and Rodrygo, who have consistently performed brilliantly for Ancelotti at Real Madrid but struggled to replicate that form for the national team.
Regarding Real Madrid, Ancelotti departs a club where he has left an indelible mark across two highly successful spells. He himself noted the strong bond, stating on Saturday, “the honeymoon with Madrid will be until the last day of my life,” clearly aware his time was drawing to a close. During his time at Real Madrid, he secured three of his record five UEFA Champions League titles, establishing himself as the most successful manager in the competition`s history, alongside winning two La Liga titles. The widely anticipated successor is Xabi Alonso, a former Real Madrid player who has quickly risen through the managerial ranks, notably winning the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen last season. Ancelotti himself praised Alonso, describing him as “one of the best coaches in the world” on Saturday.
While Ancelotti embarks on a fresh challenge with Brazil, he leaves a considerable task awaiting his successor in Madrid. Real Madrid is expected to finish the current season without winning a domestic or continental trophy for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign. This season has highlighted that despite individual talent, the squad has been unbalanced in certain areas, and improvements are necessary across the pitch. Ancelotti returned in 2021 with the aim of stabilizing the team, but his confirmed exit now signals the beginning of a true period of transition for Los Blancos.
Championship Promotion Playoff Semifinals Reach Climax
The intense competition for the final spot in next season`s Premier League continues this week with the second legs of the Championship`s promotion playoff semifinals. These matches will reduce the four competing teams to just two finalists.
One team appears to have virtually booked their place in the playoff final: Sheffield United. They host Bristol City on Monday holding a dominant position after winning the first leg 3-0, with goals attributed to Harrison Burrows, Andre Brooks, and Callum O`Hare. This result clearly reflects the significant difference in league performance between the two sides during the regular season, where Bristol finished 24 points behind United. Sheffield United is aiming for an immediate return to the Premier League, having been relegated last season after finishing bottom. They have reportedly maintained faith in manager Chris Wilder throughout, hoping he can lead them straight back to England`s top division.
Tuesday`s match in Sunderland is expected to be a much tighter affair. Sunderland hosts Coventry City with a narrow 2-1 advantage from the first leg. Goals from Wilson Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda gave Sunderland their slim lead as they pursue their first Premier League appearance since the 2016-17 season, which also ended in relegation at the bottom. The Black Cats have experienced a dramatic period since, facing immediate relegation to League One the following season after another last-place finish, spending four years in the third tier before returning to the Championship for the 2022-23 campaign. As for Coventry City, managed by Frank Lampard, they are hoping to reach the Premier League for the first time since the 2000-01 season, having spent more than two decades navigating England`s lower leagues since their relegation.
Each of these teams is vying for a place in the highly coveted promotion playoff final, scheduled for May 24 at Wembley Stadium in London. This match is often dubbed the “richest game in football” due to the immense financial rewards associated with promotion to the Premier League. Gaining a spot in the top flight brings a prize pot worth hundreds of millions. For context, Sheffield United reportedly earned around $145 million just for participating in the Premier League last season, even finishing last, significantly more than the approximately $65 million they earned in the Championship this season as a recently relegated side.
