Carlo Ancelotti says it is likely Real Madrid will be his last job in club management.
The 65-year-old is three years into his second spell at Real Madrid and has a contract with the Spanish champions that runs until 2026.
Uncertainty over his Madrid future lingered throughout 2023 before he signed a new deal in December amid persistent links to the Brazil job. President of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Ednaldo Rodrigues, said last year that Ancelotti was an obvious choice for the role.
During over three decades in management, Ancelotti has almost exclusively worked in club football, bar a three-year spell as Italy assistant manager at the very beginning of his coaching career.
Ancelotti admitted the offer of a national team job would give him something to think about, but said he would miss the day-to-day routine of club management.
GO DEEPER
The Briefing: Real Madrid 0 AC Milan 1 – Endrick’s first start, Chukwueze’s winner
“I think it will be my last club, I have to say” Ancelotti told told the Obi One Podcast.
“If there would be an opportunity for a national team, I don’t know. I’m not so excited to be in a national team for the fact that I would lose what I like more, the day-by-day. The day-by-day I like. To be here, to prepare the training, to talk to the players, to prepare the games.
“This is my season number 29 as a coach. It’s true that I have won a lot but imagine the number of titles I lost. I lost a lot.”
Ancelotti has enjoyed a coaching career spanning 32 years, winning league titles in five different countries. His five Champions League titles make him the most successful manager in the history of the competition.
He has won Serie A with Roma and AC Milan, the Premier League with Chelsea, Ligue 1 with PSG, the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich and two La Liga titles with Real Madrid.
“I had the luck, I went to the best team in England, in Spain, in Germany, I had the luck,” he continued. “But I was able to adapt to the culture. I tried to learn the languages. I learnt English, Spanish, French, I was not able to learn German, it’s impossible — not difficult, impossible!”
(Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
