Davide Ancelotti has reached an agreement to become the new head coach of Ligue 1 side Lille following the departure of Bruno Genesio.
Davide, the son of legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti, is expected to take over at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy after Lille secured third place in Ligue 1 and automatic qualification for next season’s UEFA Champions League under Genesio.
Reports from MARCA stated that negotiations between both parties have been concluded, with only an official announcement from the club still pending.
The 36-year-old Italian previously worked as an assistant coach at Real Madrid before moving to South America.
His appointment will mark his second managerial role after his stint with Brazilian side Botafogo, where he recorded 15 wins, 10 draws and eight defeats in 33 matches.
He later joined the Brazil national team coaching setup in March 2026.
The Italian also has previous experience in French football, having worked at Paris Saint-Germain as a fitness coach between 2012 and 2013 during his father’s spell at the club.
His fluency in French and understanding of the league reportedly played a key role in Lille’s decision.
Davide Ancelotti arrives at a club that remains the only team to break Paris Saint-Germain’s dominance in Ligue 1 since 2018 after Lille won the French title in 2021.
Lille’s latest achievement contrasts with the previous campaign when the club narrowly missed automatic Champions League qualification after finishing outside the top three.
The club will now hope the former Real Madrid assistant can build on last season’s third-place finish and lead another strong campaign in domestic and European competitions.
