Ancelotti turns 66 on Brazil's debut against Paraguay

Tuesday is a special day for Italian Carlo Ancelotti. On his 66th birthday, the European coach will make his debut as coach of the Brazilian national team and could receive a qualification for the 2026 World Cup as a gift.

For the party to be complete, the National Team needs to beat Paraguay , in a duel at 9:45 pm (Brasília time), at the Neo Química Arena, and hope that Uruguay beats Venezuela . This way, the passport will be stamped for the World Cup that will be played next year in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

– (The victory) It's the best gift I could have, there's no better gift than winning the game – said the Italian, in a press conference.

FAMILY BY THE COACH'S SIDE ON AND OFF THE FIELD

On this special date, Ancelotti will be accompanied by his family , who are in Brazil to accompany him. In recent days, it was also confirmed that Davide, his son, will be part of the national team 's coaching staff.

Ancelotti has spent most of his 66 years immersed in football . First as a midfielder, who enjoyed a successful career in Italy. Then as a multi-champion coach, recognised for his achievements in different countries.

CAREER SUMMARY

Born in Reggiolo, in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy , he came from a modest family. His father was a farmer and his mother was a housewife. He made his professional debut for Parma at the age of 17 in 1976. Three years later, he was signed by Roma, where he rose to the top flight of football.

With Roma, he was Italian champion in the 1982–1983 season , and won the Coppa Italia four times. He also became a frequent player for the national team, having played in the 1988 European Championship and the 1986 World Cup (as a reserve). In 1987 he transferred to Milan, a club with which he won the Champions League two years later.

At 31, he won his second Champions League with Milan . He decided to end his playing career in 1992, at the age of 33, due to chronic knee injuries, a problem that plagued him for much of his career.

Shortly after hanging up his boots, he became Arrigo Sachi's assistant on the Italian national team. He was part of the coaching staff at the World Cup in the United States, where they lost the final to Brazil. In 1995, he had his first experience as a coach, taking charge of Reggiana. He helped take the team to Serie A in Italy and, the following year, he transferred to Parma.

In 2003, he won his first Champions League as a coach. The second would come in 2007. With the Rossoneri team he also won the 2004 Serie A, the 2007 Club World Cup, the 2003 Coppa Italia, among other titles.

Already established as one of the greatest coaches in the world, he was tested (and approved) in two new countries: in England, he became national champion with Chelsea. In France, he won the league with Paris Saint-Germain.

However, his most successful work was at Real Madrid . Between 2013 and 2015 , he won "La Décima" (the club's 10th Champions League), the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Super Cup. In the 2016-2017 season, he led Bayern Munich and won the German championship. In this way, he achieved national titles in five different countries.

As a sixty-year-old, he played for Napoli in Italy and Everton in England. But it was at Real Madrid that Carleto shone again. Back at the Spanish club, he won another Champions League and a Spanish Championship.

After so much success at clubs, he accepted the challenge of managing a national team for the first time in his career and, after long negotiations, signed a deal with Brazil.