Ancelotti in Brazil on mission to restore Selecao's lost glory

Ancelotti is the first non-Brazilian in six decades to coach the Selecao. He arrived on Sunday night in Rio de Janeiro wearing a cap emblazoned with five stars representing Brazil's record World Cup victories. He will be officially presented later Monday. At 65, the Italian star manager, who has five Champions League titles to his name, more than any other coach, will for the first time take the reins of a national team.

The task that awaits him is a formidable one. Brazil have struggled for form in 2026 World Cup qualifying and sacked Dorival Junior in March after a humiliating 4-1 thrashing by Argentina. Ancelotti will cut his teeth in June with two key World Cup qualifiers, against Ecuador and Paraguay. On Monday he will unveil his squad for the games.

All eyes are on Neymar, who could be brought back into the squad after nearly two years absence. Brazilian media said the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain striker, who returned to his boyhood club of Santos in February after an injury-blighted time in Saudi Arabia, was among those being considered by Ancelotti.

Brazil is currently languishing in fourth place in the South American qualifying table for next year's tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada. The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) spent two years wooing Ancelotti to try turn the page on years of disappointment for the national side and its fans.

The Selecao have only made it as far as the World Cup semi-final once out of the last five tournaments - in 2014 against Germany, which gave the World Cup hosts an historic 7-1 thrashing on home soil. Ancelotti's arrival also coincides with a period of turbulence for the CBF itself. On Sunday, it elected a new president, Samir Xaud, after the previous boss, Ednaldo Rodrigues was dismissed by a court over suspicions of forgery in his employment contract.

"May Christ the Redeemer (Rio's landmark monument) bless the arrival of our Mr Carlo Ancelotti, so that he can secure...a highly coveted sixth world title," Xaud said by way of welcome to Ancelotti, to whom he vowed "total autonomy." Ancelotti's new role comes with a pay package of around 10 million euros ($11.4 million) a year, according to local media. His son Davide will be among his assistants.