Davide Ancelotti named Lille manager on two-year contract in 2026

Lille hired 36-year-old Davide Ancelotti as head coach on a two-year deal starting after his World Cup assistant role with Brazil.

Ancelotti's appointment confirmed Ligue 1 side Lille have finalized a two-year agreement to appoint Davide Ancelotti as their new head coach. The 36-year-old Italian manager will officially take charge at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy following his tenure as an assistant to his father, Brazil's head coach Carlo Ancelotti, during the World Cup over the summer. Lille did not disclose whether he will continue assisting the Brazilian national team once his new club role begins. 'I'm very proud and happy,' Ancelotti stated. 'It's an honour to represent Lille. They are a serious, ambitious, competitive club who are regularly playing European football.' ## Manager's coaching background This marks Ancelotti's second head coaching position after previously managing Botafogo in Brazil from July to December of the previous year. His time at Botafogo ended with his dismissal following a sixth-place finish in the domestic league and an early exit from the Copa Libertadores round of 16 after a loss to Ecuador's LDU Quito. Before stepping into management, Ancelotti spent his early career as a player in AC Milan's youth system in 2016 and later served alongside his father as an assistant at clubs including Napoli, Bayern Munich, Everton and Real Madrid. ## Succession at Lille Ancelotti will take over from Bruno Genesio, who parted ways with Lille at the conclusion of his two-year contract. Genesio guided the club to a fifth-place finish in the 2024-25 season and then secured third place in the 2025-26 campaign, ensuring Champions League qualification. The handover marks a new chapter for Lille as they transition to new leadership after consistent European competition appearances under Genesio's management. ## Coaching lineage and World Cup involvement Davide Ancelotti's appointment continues a family tradition in football management, following in the footsteps of his father, Carlo Ancelotti, who has managed top European clubs and led Brazil at the World Cup. Davide's role as an assistant during the tournament provided him with direct exposure to international football strategies, which he will now apply in a head coaching capacity at Lille. The transition reflects a blend of inherited tactical insights and personal ambition to lead a prominent European club.