Davide Ancelotti: Carving His Own Path in Lille
In a bustling restaurant in Rio de Janeiro, two young managers, Filipe Luís and Davide Ancelotti, discuss their upcoming clash. While their teams—Flamengo and Botafogo—are bitter rivals, the camaraderie between them is evident.
Ahead of their Ligue 1 showdown, Monaco's Filipe Luís praised his Lille counterpart, calling him a "really formidable person." Luís added, "It’s something special for us. It will be a pleasure to face my friend."
This summer, Ligue 1 saw 12 managerial changes, with both Luís and Ancelotti standing out. Luís boasts an impressive resume, having won titles with Chelsea and Atlético Madrid before leading Flamengo to Copa Libertadores glory. His Monaco players feel uplifted by his experience, with forward Matthis Abline noting, "He knows what he’s talking about and how to motivate us."
On the flip side, Davide Ancelotti’s journey into management has been less conventional. With a surname like Ancelotti, making a name for himself is a tall order. "I hope to be able to write my story, with my first name, too," he expressed earlier this season before a Champions League match. His father, Carlo, holds the record for most titles in the competition, making comparisons inevitable.
Before landing the Lille job, Davide spent 14 years assisting his father at various clubs and the Brazil national team. From Liverpool to Munich and beyond, he’s soaked up invaluable experience, but always from the sidelines. Now, he's finally stepping into the spotlight.
Lille’s decision to appoint Ancelotti marked a significant shift for the club. Previous managers, like Christophe Galtier and Bruno Génésio, were known for their extensive Ligue 1 experience. After Génésio’s departure, club president Olivier Létang felt it was time for a change, even though the team had qualified for the Champions League.
Létang had prior knowledge of Davide from their time together at Paris Saint-Germain, where Carlo Ancelotti was manager, and even consulted Carlo before reaching out to Davide for the position.
Despite their struggles in the Champions League, where Lille has lost all three matches, their domestic form is more promising. After a 1-1 draw against Monaco, Lille sits just a point behind league leaders Rennes, boasting a solid tally of 15 points from eight games— their best start since their title-winning season in 2020-21.
While it’s unfair to constantly compare Davide to his father, the expectations are high. Every match feels like a test of whether he can replicate Carlo’s success—or if he’s destined to be viewed as merely a shadow.
Sunday's game offered little indication of brilliance. Lille initially took the lead thanks to a goal from Ethan Mbappé, but they quickly retreated defensively. Even before Tanguy Nianzou’s red card, Monaco was applying significant pressure. Ancelotti's choice to replace a forward with a defender reflected a cautious mindset.
Ultimately, Lille couldn’t hold onto the lead. Monaco equalized, and the match ended in a stalemate, leaving Ancelotti to praise his squad's “solidarity” in the face of adversity. The quest to see who Davide Ancelotti truly is—beyond being Carlo’s son—continues.
Meanwhile, Sunday night lacked a marquee matchup in France as the highly anticipated clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Lyon was postponed. This delay means many of PSG’s nine Ballon d’Or nominees will miss the ceremony in London, echoing last year’s storm-related postponements.
In Paris, a planned protest was allowed to proceed, but with a sizable police presence due to recent riots. The French league had to adjust schedules, moving matches like Toulouse’s encounter with Troyes to Sunday and Montpellier’s game to Monday, although Saint-Étienne managed to avoid significant disruptions.
