Davide Ancelotti, son of the renowned Carlo Ancelotti, is relaunching his career as a head coach following a brief stint at Botafogo in 2025. The former assistant to his famous father spoke to L’Équipe now that he is at the helm of Lille, taking the opportunity to reflect on his time alongside his father at PSG between 2011 and 2013.
Ancelotti: “Those were incredible times.”
“The club was undergoing massive changes, and many things weren’t straightforward. Everyone thought Paris would win easily, but the team needed time to gel. Still, those were incredible times.
I remember one day during pre-season in Austria. My father said to me, ‘We’re going to sign Ibrahimovic.’ I said, ‘Incredible,’ and he added, ‘Thiago Silva is coming at the same time.’ It was surreal; I couldn’t believe it.”
Naturally, the simultaneous arrival of several major players—especially in a league unaccustomed to such moves—fostered the idea that PSG would rack up wins with ease. But building a team isn’t that simple. You also have to respect other clubs, which possess quality even without superstars. This is the elite level; everyone knows how to play football.
Ultimately, playing a part in building such a project was a great experience for Davide Ancelotti—especially given that he was only in his twenties and just starting out in his coaching career. These are fond memories, and there are undoubtedly elements he can draw upon, even though the context at Lille—as a head coach—will be different.
