Lille have officially confirmed the appointment of Davide Ancelotti as their new head coach, with the Italian signing a two-year contract to take charge of the Ligue 1 side.
The 36-year-old arrives at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy after years of experience working alongside his father, Carlo Ancelotti, at some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
Having initially started as a fitness coach at Paris Saint-Germain and later Real Madrid, Davide gradually established himself as a respected member of the technical staff before becoming assistant manager at Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton and, most recently, Real Madrid between 2021 and 2025.
During that period, he played a key role in one of the most successful eras in the Spanish club’s recent history, helping to deliver two Champions League titles, a Club World Cup and an Intercontinental Cup.
Davide stepped out of his father’s shadow in 2025 when he accepted his first senior managerial role at Botafogo.
His debut campaign in Brazil proved encouraging, guiding the Rio de Janeiro outfit to a sixth-place league finish and qualification for the Copa Libertadores before later joining the Brazilian national team’s coaching setup ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Lille president Olivier Letang, who previously worked with Ancelotti during their time together at Paris Saint-Germain, welcomed the appointment with enthusiasm.
“We are extremely happy to welcome Davide,” Letang said. “His football philosophy, his methodology and his approach to management are both modern and demanding. We are convinced he is ready for this challenge.”
Ancelotti also expressed his excitement at beginning the next chapter of his career. “I am very proud and delighted to join Lille, and I would like to thank Olivier Letang for the confidence he has shown in me,” he said.
“Throughout our discussions, I felt a genuine connection in terms of values, ambition and vision. Lille is a club with a clear identity, strong principles and high standards. It is an ambitious institution that consistently competes at the highest level and regularly features in European competition. It is a great honour to represent this club.”
The appointment marks another significant step in Davide Ancelotti’s managerial journey as he takes charge of one of French football’s most ambitious projects.
