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The Guardian
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
Brazil return to their roots with appointment of Carlo Ancelotti
On Friday, against Ecuador in Guayaquil, Carlo Ancelotti will become the first foreigner to take sole charge of Brazil. For any major country to turn to a foreign coach is always an admission of failure. Apart from England, the only other country to turn to a foreign coach after winning the World Cup is Uruguay, which has a population of 3.5 million, and they didn't do so for half a century after last lifting the trophy (the Argentinians Daniel Passarella in 1999 until 2001 and Marcelo Bielsa from 2023 to today). But the truth is that Brazilian coaching has been in retreat for some time. The situation is stark. The Brazilian league is by far the wealthiest in South America. Brazilian sides have won the past six Copas Libertadores, and have beaten other Brazilian sides in four of those six finals. Yet four of the past six Brazilian titles have been won by Portuguese coaches while Otto Glória, who led Benfica to the 1968 European Cup final, remains the only Brazilian to have been successful at elite club level in Europe. Ancelotti's arrival means no national team in the South American confederation is managed by a Brazilian; seven Conmebol sides are managed by Argentinians (not including the Peru coach, Óscar Ibáñez, who was born in Argentina but played for Peru). That is not just a linguistic issue: Brazil have the money, but Argentina have the culture and the knowhow. Brazilian coaching once led the world. The legend may have it that Brazil won three World Cups between 1958 and 1970 by grabbing some brilliant individuals off the beach but it's not true. Determined to put right what had gone wrong in 1950, when defeat in the final game to Uruguay at the Maracanã had cost them a World Cup that had seemed theirs, Brazil prepared for 1958 like no side had prepared before. A delegation led by the national team's doctor, Hilton Gosling, assessed 25 sites in Sweden before choosing a training base in Hindås, a resort near Gothenburg. Although attempts to have a local nudist colony closed for the duration of the tournament failed, all 28 female members of staff at the team hotel were laid off for the duration of the tournament 'to reduce distractions'. The players were put through a rigorous fitness regime, while their backroom staff included not only Gosling but also a dentist and a psychologist. The Juscelino Kubitschek government, which provided much of the funding, was thoroughly technocratic as it sought to achieve '50 years' development in five'. The same principle was applied to football: expert advisers and detailed planning were all. Brazil were also tactical pioneers. The influence of a wave of Hungarian coaches in the 1930s, missionaries of the coffee-house tradition, most notably Dori Kürschner, had led by the 50s to the development of 4-2-4 and, with it, a form of zonal marking. As late as 1957, the great Hungarian Bela Guttmann was managing São Paulo to the Paulista title. There was a continual dialogue with outsiders, and not only those from Europe. Vicente Feola ended up leading Brazil in 1958, but the job very nearly went to the Paraguayan. The 4-2-4 not only gave Brazil an extra man at the back when out of possession, but allowed their full-backs to advance, the left-back Nílton Santos in particular, offering a wide variety of attacking angles. Hungary had edged towards a 4-2-4 without quite getting there, but this was something radical and new. European observers in Sweden were entranced and in the years that followed almost everybody started experimenting with a back four. Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer after newsletter promotion By the 1962 World Cup, though, Brazil had already moved on, withdrawing Mário Zagallo to create an asymmetric 4-3-3. Brazil were at the cutting edge and remained so in 1970 as Zágallo, by then the coach, put together a compact and balanced team that in effect contained four No 10s and a wide forward. Despite pioneering zonal marking, Brazil never developed that into pressing. The experience of the 1954 and 1966 World Cups had created a feeling that Brazil could not match European sides physically. As the military government took over all areas of life, Brazilian coaching became increasing focused on the measurable. Telê Santana's sides of 1982 and 1986 represented a throwback, but defeats by Italy and, on penalties, France added to a sense the Europeans were somehow tougher or stronger. That has only grown since their last World Cup triumph in 2002. Brazil have been eliminated by the first European side they have faced in a knockout tie in the past five World Cups. The excessive focus on physical preparation began half a century ago, but it is now compounded by a short-termism and impatience within Brazilian club football. Lose three games in quick succession at even a medium-sized club and a manager is likely to be sacked. The result is a focus on results at the expense of process, while the classic ball-playing Brazilian midfielder – a Didi, Gérson or Falcão – is all but extinct. Insularity and complacency, fostered by those five World Cups, discouraged dialogue with abroad. When Tite, the outstanding Brazilian manager of the past 15 years, took a sabbatical in 2014 to observe, among other sides, Ancelotti's Real Madrid, it was regarded by many in Brazil as a controversial indulgence. The crushing 4-1 defeat by Argentina in March, though, has forced radical action. Appointing Ancelotti doesn't just expose Brazil once again to foreign ideas; it specifically reconnects Brazil with the tradition that made it great. Ancelotti's great mentor as a coach was Nils Liedholm, who coached him for five years at Roma, where he played alongside Falcão, before preparing the ground at Milan for Arrigo Sacchi's revolution, which Ancelotti later joined. Liedholm's great mentor was the avuncular Hungarian Lajos Czeizler, who shaped him as a player at Norrköping and then took him to Milan. And Czeizler, who was on MTK's books just after the first world war when Kürschner was coach, is a product of exactly that Budapest culture that shaped Guttmann and the other Hungarian pioneers. With Ancelotti, Brazilian football has returned to its roots. As with so many countries, they lie firmly in the Danubian coffee-house tradition.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
📊 Knockout stage time: see how all the Libertadores groups finished
The group stage of the 2025 Conmebol Libertadores has officially come to an end this Thursday (29). Thus, after six rounds, we already know the 16 clubs that will compete in the round of 16, as well as the eight teams that were "directed" to the playoffs of the South American round of 16. Advertisement Next Monday (2), at its headquarters in Paraguay, Conmebol will hold the draw for the round of 16 of the Libertadores, at noon (Brasília time). There are no restrictions, only the group leaders will be in Pot 1, while the teams that finished in second place in the groups will go to Pot 2. The teams that finished third in the group will compete in the playoffs of the South American round of 16 against teams that finished second in the other tournament. 🗳️ The draw pots *The only team with 100% success, Palmeiras had the best overall campaign and, therefore, will decide at home until the semifinals. Advertisement Pot 1: Palmeiras, São Paulo, Racing, River Plate, Estudiantes, Vélez Sarsfield, Internacional and LDU Pot 2: Botafogo, Peñarol, Flamengo, Atlético Nacional, Libertad, Fortaleza, Universitario and Cerro Porteño 📊 Check out how all eight groups of the Libertadores finished This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here. 📸 RAUL ARBOLEDA - AFP or licensors
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
📹 Libertadores: São Paulo beat Talleres to reach last 16 as group winners
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here. In Morumbi, São Paulo beat Talleres 2-1 on Tuesday (27), in the sixth and final round of the Conmebol Libertadores 2025 group stage. With qualification for the round of 16 already guaranteed, Tricolor only needed one point to advance as leaders. In the first half, São Paulo opened the scoring with Sabino (25'), somewhat unintentionally, after André Silva headed the ball. But the Tricolor defense relaxed, and the Argentines equalized with Girotti (38'), unleashing a bomb from inside the area. With the second half tense, with good chances on both sides, São Paulo secured the victory when Luciano shot from inside the area, in the corner of the goalkeeper. The sad note of São Paulo's game was the yellow card for coach Luis Zubeldía, which leaves him suspended for the first match of the round of 16. Por ter tomado mais um cartão amarelo, o Zubeldía está suspenso para o jogo de ida da oitavas de final da Libertadores.É sempre isso — tricolorzinho6331 (@tricolor_zinho) May 27, 2025With the victory, São Paulo reached 14 points and secured the leadership of Group D. Tricolor Paulista now waits for the Conmebol draw on June 2 to meet their opponent in the round of 16. VAMOSSSSSSSS 🇾🇪🇾🇪🇾🇪🇾🇪🇾🇪🇾🇪🇾🇪 — São Paulo FC (@SaoPauloFC) May 28, 2025 São Paulo returns to the field on Saturday (31), against Bahia, for the 11th round of the 2025 Brazilian Championship. Talleres, on the other hand, finished last with four points, behind Libertad (nine points), which advanced to the round of 16, and Alianza Lima (five points), which will play in the South American playoffs. 📸 Alexandre Schneider - 2024 Getty Images
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
📹 Libertadores: São Paulo beat Talleres to reach last 16 as group winners
📹 Libertadores: São Paulo beat Talleres to reach last 16 as group winners This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here. In Morumbi, São Paulo beat Talleres 2-1 on Tuesday (27), in the sixth and final round of the Conmebol Libertadores 2025 group stage. Advertisement With qualification for the round of 16 already guaranteed, Tricolor only needed one point to advance as leaders. In the first half, São Paulo opened the scoring with Sabino (25'), somewhat unintentionally, after André Silva headed the ball. But the Tricolor defense relaxed, and the Argentines equalized with Girotti (38'), unleashing a bomb from inside the area. With the second half tense, with good chances on both sides, São Paulo secured the victory when Luciano shot from inside the area, in the corner of the goalkeeper. The sad note of São Paulo's game was the yellow card for coach Luis Zubeldía, which leaves him suspended for the first match of the round of 16. 🚦 How it stands With the victory, São Paulo reached 14 points and secured the leadership of Group D. Advertisement Tricolor Paulista now waits for the Conmebol draw on June 2 to meet their opponent in the round of 16. São Paulo returns to the field on Saturday (31), against Bahia, for the 11th round of the 2025 Brazilian Championship. Talleres, on the other hand, finished last with four points, behind Libertad (nine points), which advanced to the round of 16, and Alianza Lima (five points), which will play in the South American playoffs. 📸 Alexandre Schneider - 2024 Getty Images
Malay Mail
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
‘Best coach in the world': Brazil legends welcome Ancelotti but warn deeper issues remain
ASUNCION, May 16 — Carlo Ancelotti is one of the best coaches in the world and can change the poor performance of the Brazilian national team with experience and discipline, several former players of the five-time world champion said on Wednesday, but they cautioned his arrival will not mask certain 'structural' deficiencies. The 65-year-old Ancelotti, one of the most decorated managers in world football, will become Brazil coach after leaving Real Madrid at the end of the season. He became the first manager to capture titles in each of Europe's top five leagues, for England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France, and has guided Real to two Champions League and LaLiga doubles in three seasons. 'I'm very happy, and I can't believe there's anyone who isn't happy when the arrival of the best coach in the world is announced,' Felipe Melo, a three-time Copa Libertadores winner and World Cup player with Brazil in 2010, told reporters. Since Tite left the job in late 2022, Ramon Menezes, Fernando Diniz, and Dorival Jr. have been in charge of the team. 'If we changed four coaches in less than three years, something isn't working (...) In my opinion, Ancelotti was brought in to get results, so we have to help him,' said Dunga, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 1994 and former coach of the national team. Brazil is in fourth place in Conmebol as it seeks to qualify for the 2026 World Cup having won only six of 14 matches. Six teams will qualify for next year's World Cup. 'He has a broader vision of the different football schools around the world, and I think that's a great asset,' said Mauro Silva, a World Cup winner with Brazil in 1994. 'It's a delicate moment for Brazilian football. We have some structural issues, but all in all, I hope Ancelotti succeeds.' Former football player Formiga, who holds the record for having played in seven Women World Cups and seven Olympic Games with Brazil, hoped that Ancelotti would have a quick 'connection' with the team so they could reach the World Cup without any problems. 'He doesn't have much time, but I hope he and his coaching staff and the players can help each other as much as possible (...) You have to have the spirit and discipline to change everything that's happening today; we have to believe it's possible'. The former players also addressed the words of Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who a few days ago criticised the current Brazil international players, saying that they aren't at the same level than others from the past and are 'very far' from the great teams. When asked by Reuters, Mauro Silva said: 'I think what's happening is that everyone in Brazil misses winning titles, right? Now, by 2026, it will be 24 years since we've won a World Cup. Everyone is sad and hoping Brazil wins something.' Brazil won its fifth World Cup title in 2002, but has since experienced countless disappointments, including failing to lift the Cup at home in 2014. 'We miss the spirit we had before, of those who did so much for football, and that we don't have today (...) So it's fair to mention these players and say that this new generation should reflect their history,' she added. — Reuters
