Carlo Ancelotti Reportedly Expected to Leave Real Madrid, Eyes Brazil Job

Carlo Ancelotti's fantastic run at Real Madrid is reportedly coming to a close.

According to Mario Cortegana and David Ornstein of The Athletic, the veteran manager is "expected to leave his position as Real Madrid head coach with the Brazil national team his most likely destination."

Per that report, Ancelotti is atop Brazil's wishlist for the 2026 World Cup, with Al Hilal head coach Jorge Jesus "also on their shortlist."

It's hardly a done deal. As The Athletic noted, "Ancelotti has made public assurances that he will only leave Madrid if the club’s board decide to part company with him, although Brazil are in advanced talks with the 65-year-old."

But he's sounded like a manager who might be on the way out in recent comments.

"Maybe the club decides to replace me and maybe it could be this year, or next year when my contract is over," he told reporters after Wednesday's defeat to Arsenal. "But when I am done here, I will be grateful to this club. That could be tomorrow, 10 days, one month or in one year, but if my contract ends or doesn't end, I really don't care."

This season hasn't gone to plan for Real Madrid, with the Spanish giants out of the Champions League following a quarterfinals loss to Arsenal and currently trailing Barcelona by seven points, albeit with a game in hand.

Still, Real Madrid has the opportunity to still win the Copa Del Rey, facing Barca in the final next Saturday. And Ancelotti's time as manager has been a fantastic period for Los Blancos.

Since re-joining the club in 2021 after a previous stint as manager (2013–2015), Ancelotti has led Real Madrid to a pair of La Liga titles, a pair of Champions League triumphs and a Copa Del Rey trophy. In total, Los Blancos have won three Champions League titles under his watch.

Replacing him will be no small task, though a familiar face has been tapped. Per The Athletic, "Madrid have sounded out Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso this season and the former Spain international is in pole position to replace the Italian should a coaching change take place."

Alonso spent several seasons with Los Blancos as a player and led Bayer Leverkusen to a Bundesliga title for the first time in club history last season, ending Bayern Munich's 11-year streak.

Another possibility could be Jürgen Klopp, who took the past season off after ending his successful Liverpool tenure following the 2023-24 campaign.