Carlo Ancelotti's track record to get the most out of Brazilian players makes him the best man to bring the national team back to the top, Football legend Zico told AFP.
The Italian Ancelotti has sworn to make Brazilian champions again five times World Cup winners again next year after he became the first non-Brazilian who coached the side in six decades.
He cherished Brazilians such as Vinicius Junior in Real Madrid and helped the 24-year-old to change a figure of pleasure because of his inconsistent end product in one of the greatest stars of the Spanish competition.
Zico is one of the best players ever to put on the iconic yellow shirt of Brazil and believes that the concept and experience of Ancelotti make him the ideal man for the job.
“Ancelotti played with Brazilian players, he has been a champion coach with Brazilian players with different teams and he has always praised Brazilian players and put them in a position to help him,” said Zico AFP in Japan, where the 72-year-old is a consultant of J. League Club Kashima Antlers.
“He has a good understanding, he loves football and his approach to football is very in line with Brazilian thinking.
“So I think he can be successful for this reason, he can help Brazilian players thrive with his knowledge, his ability and his expertise.”
At the age of 65, Ancelotti has five Champions League titles under his belt and managed the crème of Europe-clubs, including Juventus, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich.
He takes the reins of a national team for the first time and has been the first -born manager of Brazil since 1965.
Zico says that Brazilian coaches are no longer in fashion all over the world, pointing to decreasing numbers from his countrymen in former hotspots such as Africa, Saudi Arabia and Japan.
Eligible
Zico, who coached in different countries, including Uzbekistan, Iraq and India, believes that the Brazilian federation had little choice than watching abroad.
“This is not a good time for Brazilian coaches, not only in Brazil but all over the world,” he said.
“Now, when it comes to the Brazilian team, when you take someone with you, bring the best. As I see it, Brazil brought the best.
“He is the best for me, so I don't see anything to complain about.”
Brazil still has to achieve their place in next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico and are currently fourth in the South American qualifying table.
Ancelotti has been their fourth coach since Tite abandoned after the quarter -finals loss against Croatia on the World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
The Italian is confronted with a number of difficult luminaires in the qualification of the World Cup, with games at Ecuador and Bolivia that are still coming.
But Zico believes that Brazil can be one of the most important contenders for the trophy if they avoid the unthinkable and book their place in the tournament.
“I think Brazil has a chance if Ancelotti succeeds in doing a good job in the short time he has,” he said.
“I think Brazil could be one of the contenders for the title. Why not? I don't see a team in the world today as favorites.”