Davide Ancelotti, tracked by Lille, seeks to make his own name | OneFootball

Davide Ancelotti, long tagged as the coach’s son, has grown into a tactical thinker beside Carlo and is seeking his own path. L'Équipe reports that his profile appeals to Olivier Létang as Lille consider replacing Bruno Genesio.

"When you arrive somewhere the priority is to study the players you have. It is like shaping a bonsai," he said to France Football.

Born in 1990, he grew up in Carlo’s dressing rooms. He tried at AC Milan’s academy, had a first-team friendly and a brief Fifth Division spell. "I was too slow," he said.

He turned to physiology and training, topped his UEFA A Licence, then joined PSG in 2012 as a fitness coach, flagging Kingsley Coman to Carlo.

His step up came at Bayern in 2016 when Paul Clement left and he was promoted at 26. "At first it is not easy. You are the son of... you need to gain trust."

At Real Madrid from 2021 to 2025 he analysed opponents and briefed players. Before one derby he outlined to Karim Benzema how to disrupt Atlético, and the striker scored in the 12th minute.

In 2025 he took Botafogo for his first head job, lasted five months and the fit never took. Supporters felt he was too European and railed at injuries. "The only way to learn to swim is to jump into the sea," he told Gazzetta dello Sport.

Now back with the Seleçao staff, the next test could be in Europe.

Source: L'Équipe