Davide Ancelotti sacked by Botafogo after 5 months for backing staff | OneFootball

Davide Ancelotti’s first experience as head coach ends in the most bitter way. The Italian coach’s Brazilian adventure comes to a close after just five months: Botafogo has officially announced the dismissal of the 36-year-old coach, who arrived in Rio de Janeiro with a contract valid until December 2026.

Davide Ancelotti, a lightning-fast farewell to Botafogo: dismissed after 5 months for defending his staff

A swift and painful separation, reached after a series of meetings held this morning.

Behind the club’s decision are not only sporting results below expectations, but above all a harsh internal clash between the coach and the management, which led to a definitive break.

Results below expectations and a complicated season

The sporting record did not help Davide Ancelotti consolidate his position. Tasked with defending the titles won by Botafogo in the previous season, the coach was unable to keep the team at the top of Brazilian football. The league ended with a sixth-place finish, a full 16 points behind champions Flamengo, while in the Copa Libertadores the journey ended in the round of 16 against LDU Quito.

A performance considered insufficient for a club with high ambitions. However, according to O Globo, the club’s initial assessment of the Italian coach’s work was not entirely negative. Another factor proved to be decisive.

Too many injuries and fitness management under fire

The real crux of the matter was the high number of muscle injuries that affected the squad during Ancelotti’s tenure. A recurring problem that ultimately undermined the relationship of trust with the management, who became increasingly convinced that the causes were linked to workload and athletic preparation.

Botafogo’s board of directors reportedly identified fitness coach Luca Guerra, a trusted associate of Davide Ancelotti, as the main person responsible for the physical setbacks, openly demanding his removal.

The definitive break: Ancelotti defends his staff

The key moment of the affair comes right here. At first, to save his job, it seemed that Davide Ancelotti was willing to accept the club’s decision. But the coach’s position then changed dramatically: “I cannot give up a fundamental member of my staff.”

The refusal to sacrifice the fitness coach caused an irreparable rift with management. Faced with the wall erected by the coach, Botafogo chose a hard line, opting for the immediate termination of his contract.

A dismissal that weighs on the future, but doesn’t close it

For Davide Ancelotti, this is a heavy setback, especially as it came in his first real experience as a head coach after years spent as an assistant alongside his father Carlo at Napoli, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid. At the same time, the decision to defend his staff is a clear sign of personality and professional consistency.

The future remains open: the dismissal from Botafogo closes a brief and complicated chapter, but does not erase the profile of a young, ambitious coach who is likely destined for new opportunities, perhaps far from Brazil.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.