Carlo Ancelotti

Carlo Ancelotti, the Italian tactician appointed Brazil's first foreign permanent manager, brings a CV that includes four UEFA Champions League titles across Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Liverpool. His trademark is a flexible 4-3-3 or 4-4-2 diamond that adapts to personnel rather than forcing players into rigid roles. With Brazil he has prioritised Vinícius Júnior as the focal point of attacks, favouring vertical, direct play over the positional possession game his predecessor attempted.

Ancelotti typically deploys a 4-3-3 with Vinícius Júnior on the left and Raphinha on the right, both given licence to cut inside. Bruno Guimarães sits at the base of a midfield triangle, recycling possession and breaking up play, while Lucas Paquetá and Casemiro provide the legs and creativity ahead of him. Brazil press aggressively in transition but are equally comfortable dropping into a compact mid-block and exploiting space on the counter.