Davide Ancelotti is beginning to establish his own identity in football management, but his family name continues to attract attention as Lille prepare to face Arsenal in the Champions League.
The 45-year-old Italian, son of legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti, takes his Lille side to the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday seeking a statement result against Mikel Arteta’s team.
Although Davide shares many of his father’s qualities, including tactical flexibility, composure and an ability to build relationships with players, he is still working to develop the trophy-winning reputation that has made Carlo one of football’s most successful managers.
Carlo has won the European Cup seven times as a player and coach. Davide, by contrast, is only preparing for his second Champions League match as a head coach after Lille surrendered the lead twice in a draw against Real Betis in his European debut.
Nevertheless, his early work in France suggests he is becoming more than simply another manager benefiting from a famous surname.
Lille’s Strong Ligue 1 Form Makes Them a Serious Threat
Lille enter the Arsenal encounter in impressive domestic form, sitting second in Ligue 1, just one point behind the leaders and three points ahead of reigning European champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Davide has already demonstrated that his team can compete against France’s biggest clubs. In his second match in charge, Lille held Paris Saint-Germain to a draw, with two stoppage-time goals preventing his side from securing a memorable victory.
The team’s approach has also changed under the younger Ancelotti. According to Lille supporter Dimitri Favorinus, host of the Simplement Dogues podcast, the side have moved away from the possession-focused football associated with previous managers.
Favorinus explained that Lille now play a more direct and adaptable style, taking opportunities to attack quickly rather than insisting on building every move patiently.
That pragmatism could be important against Arsenal, who are expected to test Lille’s organisation and ability to defend under pressure.
A Traditional Striker and Dangerous Wingers Lead Lille’s Attack
Davide’s tactical approach places considerable importance on his wide players and the ability to get the ball forward quickly.
At centre-forward, former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud is an option, although Japan international Ayase Ueda could be the more likely starter after making an encouraging impression following his arrival from Feyenoord in August.
Lille will, however, be without Ethan Mbappe, the younger brother of Kylian Mbappe, who is suspended after elbowing a Real Betis player in the face during their previous Champions League match.
The absence is an unfortunate setback for a team that has built momentum in the early stages of the season.
Against Arsenal, Lille are expected to adopt a compact defensive formation, potentially a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1, before looking to exploit counterattacking opportunities.
Former Tottenham midfielder Nabil Bentaleb could also play an important role by delivering long passes from midfield to launch quick attacks.
Davide Built His Coaching Career Alongside His Father
Davide’s journey into management began after he failed to establish himself as a professional player at AC Milan. Rather than continuing to pursue a playing career, he moved into coaching at the age of 23 after completing a degree in sports science.
He subsequently worked alongside his father at several major clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Napoli and Everton, before returning to Madrid and later joining the Brazilian national team setup.
Those experiences gave him access to elite football environments and opportunities to learn from some of the game’s most accomplished professionals.
However, his close association with Carlo has also fuelled criticism that his progress has been helped by nepotism.
His appointment at Lille followed a spell in Brazil and came at the request of club president Olivier Letang, an established ally of Carlo. That connection prompted questions about whether Davide had been given the position because of his family name.
His performances so far are beginning to provide an opportunity to answer those doubts on the pitch.
Everton Experience Revealed His Strength as a Man-Manager
Davide made a particularly positive impression during his time at Everton, where he was heavily involved in the day-to-day work on the training ground.
People at the club reportedly admired his work ethic, approachability and lack of ego. He also developed close relationships with players and staff, while he and his wife, Ana, established a family life on Merseyside.
His arrival at Everton was marked by an unusual welcome from former striker Duncan Ferguson, who hosted the Ancelottis for an evening at a Liverpool jazz bar. The group reportedly enjoyed a whisky-fuelled night while joining in with a rendition of Nessun Dorma.
Davide’s time at the club was also marked by personal difficulties. His mother’s health deteriorated seriously, forcing him to travel to Italy and miss some training sessions to visit her. Despite those absences, his commitment to his work was said to remain beyond question.
His mother, Luisa, died in May 2021, shortly before the Ancelottis returned to Madrid.
Davide’s relationship with Everton has endured. When Lille played the English club in a pre-season friendly during the summer, he spoke to Everton’s in-house television channel after the match. His continued affection for the club has prompted some to suggest he could eventually return as its head coach.
A Short Botafogo Spell Brought Difficulties and Criticism
Davide’s first senior managerial position away from his father came at Brazilian club Botafogo in 2025, following face-to-face discussions with Rangers.
His time in charge lasted only five months. A source in Brazil said he was well-liked and adapted quickly to the country, but described his training sessions as intense and noted that results were not consistently positive.
His subsequent work with Brazil’s national team also brought unwanted attention.
During a World Cup group-stage victory over Scotland, Davide appeared to shake his head in frustration when his father called for Neymar to come on as a substitute. The apparent reaction triggered criticism in Brazil, where Neymar remains an influential figure.
Ana was subjected to abusive messages on social media and publicly challenged the interpretation of the incident, saying the image had been taken out of context and insisting that the family wanted Brazil to succeed.
Davide later helped calm the controversy with a statement and earned praise for facing the media after Brazil’s unexpected elimination by Norway in the last 16.
He conducted that interview in Portuguese, one of six languages he speaks fluently.
Greek Mythology Shapes Davide’s Coaching Philosophy
One of the most distinctive aspects of Davide’s approach is his enthusiasm for Ancient Greek mythology.
He frequently uses stories and metaphors during team talks, drawing on the lives of figures such as Theseus and Odysseus to communicate lessons to his players.
When asked which mythological character best represented him, Davide chose Prometheus rather than Heracles. In Greek mythology, Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity.
Davide explained that he identified with the figure’s commitment to people, highlighting the importance he places on human relationships.
His methods have attracted the attention of Giroud, who is three years older than his manager at 40.
Giroud has described Davide as a cultured coach who uses mythology, quotations and stories to deliver messages to the squad. He also praised his manager’s open-mindedness and willingness to draw inspiration from influential figures.
Davide has cited coaches such as Pep Guardiola, Jurgen Klopp, Roberto De Zerbi, Diego Simeone and Arrigo Sacchi among his influences. He also looks beyond football to former basketball coach Phil Jackson, while his father remains a central source of advice.
Carlo reportedly calls his son after every match, continuing a relationship that combines family support with years of professional collaboration.
Arsenal’s Tactics Are Familiar to the Lille Manager
Davide will not approach Tuesday’s contest without knowledge of his opponents.
He faced Arsenal while working with Real Madrid in the 2025 Champions League quarter-finals and had also studied the Gunners’ defensive approach in their goalless draw at Manchester City the previous year.
That match reportedly helped inform Real Madrid’s own defensive performance at the Etihad Stadium.
Lille could therefore be expected to remain disciplined without the ball, avoid committing too many players forward and look for opportunities to attack Arsenal on the break.
The challenge will be to maintain that defensive structure while taking advantage of any space left by Arteta’s side.
A victory at the Emirates would represent one of the most significant achievements of Davide’s managerial career and strengthen the argument that he is capable of succeeding independently of his father’s reputation.
Lille Supporters Believe Davide Is Building Something Different
Despite the questions surrounding his appointment, Davide has begun to win over supporters with his personality and approach to the job.
Favorinus described him as approachable, close to his players and comfortable dealing with the media. He also highlighted the freshness Davide has brought to the club, both in his communication and his ideas.
Those qualities echo the characteristics often associated with Carlo, but Davide’s challenge is to turn them into sustained success of his own.
Lille’s strong domestic position has given him a promising platform. The Arsenal match offers a much bigger test of his tactical judgement, his players’ resilience and his ability to compete on Europe‘s biggest stage.
For a manager still building his own reputation, taking three points away from the Emirates would be a powerful statement that the Ancelotti name can stand for more than his father’s achievements.
