There will be celebrations at the Brazilian team’s concentration on American soil this Wednesday. Commander Carlo Ancelotti blows out the candles to celebrate his 67th birthday.
The Italian commander’s previous festive date also took place with the Brazilian athletes. During the year 2025, the coach lived his birthday focused on the commitments of the Qualifiers, in a duel won against Paraguay. That match mathematically stamped the country’s passport to the World Cup.
Below, we bring you a detailed list with 10 notable episodes and interesting facts about the trajectory of the victorious football professional. See the details.
Debutant on the main bank, but with luggage in the USA
Although he is making his absolute debut as head coach at World Cups, Carlo Ancelotti has already experienced the pulse of the biggest football tournament on the planet in a support role. In 1994, Brazil’s current commander served as assistant coach to Arrigo Sacchi in Italy, which reached the grand final and ended up being beaten on penalties by the Brazilian team itself.
At that time, the professional was 35 years old and had retired from playing professionally about two years earlier.
As a historical geographical coincidence, the Italian delegation set up its training base in the same region of the state of New Jersey, very close to the location chosen by the CBF in 2026.
Divided routine and residence in the West Zone of Rio
During this initial twelve-month cycle leading the five-time champion team, Carlo Ancelotti alternated stays between the city of Vancouver, in Canadian territory, where he maintains a permanent residence with his wife, and the neighborhood of Barra da Tijuca, located in the capital of Rio de Janeiro, in a strategic location close to the offices of the highest national football entity. Daily life by the sea won over the European, who chose to live in a property located on Avenida Lúcio Costa, facing the Atlantic Ocean.
Public recognition and the intense work schedule imposed barriers, but did not stop the Italian’s leisure time on the coast of Rio de Janeiro. To avoid harassment from fans and onlookers, the commander used to take early morning walks along the promenade, wearing caps and sunglasses.
Amateur cook and preference for ideal pasta
Cooking represents one of Carlo Ancelotti’s greatest distractions outside the field. The coach has a habit of running the stove and usually ensures that he will prepare special meals for close friends and sports partners, even though several of these promises end up being postponed due to the tight schedule.
In Brazil, he became a frequent customer of establishments specializing in meat carvery and traditional Italian cuisine restaurants. One of the foods that most pleases the coach’s palate is corn polenta, a delicacy that goes directly back to his family memories in Europe.
The only reservation made by the professional regarding Brazilian food customs is linked to the cooking time of local pasta, considered excessively soft by the technician. Demanding about the origins of his native country, he consumes pasta strictly prepared in the “al dente” format.
Alternative device to curb smoking on the lawn
In a recent period, the commander became the center of debate on the internet after being caught using a tobacco product during a preparatory activity with the Brazilian squad. The item in question is not a conventional electronic cigarette with liquid essences, but rather a technological mechanism that heats solid tobacco without generating the traditional burning process. During official games, traditional chewing gum appears as the coach’s main tool for controlling anxiety in technical areas.
Dedicated polyglot and routine Portuguese studies
Throughout his vast professional journey through major cities, Carlo Ancelotti worked in several markets on the European continent and always placed mastery of native languages as a priority in order to absorb local customs. As soon as he accepted Brazil’s invitation, he began an intense routine of learning the Portuguese language to improve his communication with the press and the athletes on the squad.
– We practice study meetings about four times a week, including periods on Saturdays. His goal was to demonstrate consistent progress in the second official statement with journalists, scheduled for the end of August – explained Roberto Piantino, tutor hired for the mission.
– The technician demonstrates ease of absorption and carried with him a previous structure of the Portuguese language due to his experience with the Spanish language. As much as this similarity helps in the process, it sometimes confuses reasoning due to similar terms. The language he previously mastered with greater fluidity, Spanish in this scenario, sometimes ends up appearing unintentionally – highlighted the educator.
The coach communicates perfectly in Italian, Spanish, English and French, and also has basic knowledge of the German dialect, assimilated during his time working at Bayern Munich.
Author of four literary works on football and management
This Wednesday’s birthday boy has published four different books on his CV:
- “Preferro a Taça: Vida, Partidas e Milagres de um Que Comum” (without official translation for the national market), originally printed in 2009. The autobiographical book narrates his time as a midfielder and his first steps in the technical area;
- “My Christmas Tree”, sold since 2013. The publication brings together locker room memories, game methodologies and professional behind-the-scenes, with a special focus on the 4-3-2-1 tactical design used in their successful teams;
- “Quiet Leadership”, published in 2016. The content focuses on the human relationships developed by the professional and unravels his methodology for coordinating groups full of stars without adopting tyranny postures;
- “The Dream: Breaking Records in the Champions League”, distributed in the year 2025. The most recent written project details his successful journey in the main club tournament on the planet.
Youth linked to rural activities in the Italian countryside
Carlo Ancelotti lived his first years of life surrounded by relatives who worked on the farm in the small town of Reggiolo, located in the north of Italy. During his childhood and youth, he alternated his days between school duties, football training and supporting rural duties on the family property, taking care of crops and livestock.
The commander usually credits his mental solidity and thoughtful stance to his roots linked to agriculture. In the professional’s view, the routine inside was fundamental to consolidate precepts of respect for others, daily dedication, simplicity and resilience in the face of difficulties.
Cup collector in the main centers of the planet
During his professional journey, the commander won the top divisions in the five most relevant championships in Europe — reaching the top in Italy, England, France, Germany and Spain.
Historical mark:The Italian alone holds the position of coach with the most UEFA Champions League cups, totaling five achievements as coach of Milan and Real Madrid. Additionally, he won the coveted continental cup on two occasions as a professional football athlete.
Numerical performance and call-ups in charge of Brazil
With exactly twelve months completed in charge of the national technical committee, Carlo Ancelotti was in charge of the Brazilian team in 12 official exhibitions, totaling a record of seven triumphs, two draws and three setbacks, which generates a mathematical return of 63.8% of the points played.
Throughout this period, he called 58 professionals to the squad, with midfielder Casemiro appearing as the only name present on all call lists — Matheus Cunha and Wesley were also part of all the original relationships, but ended up being withdrawn due to medical problems.
Family partnership on the coaching staff and the assistant’s future
Since 2016, the coach has shared daily decisions with his direct heir, Davide, who assumed the role of main assistant coach of his team. The family duo worked together at powerhouses such as Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton and Real Madrid.
After ending his relationship with the Botafogo club, the commander’s son joined the work of Amarelinha’s technical committee at the beginning of this year 2026. After the end of Brazil’s participation in the World Cup, the young professional will take on the role of head coach of Lille, from France.
