Paolo Sorrentino to Create a Documentary on Iconic Soccer Coach Carlo Ancelotti
Oscar-Winning Director Paolo Sorrentino to Create Documentary on Carlo Ancelotti
Oscar-winning director Paolo Sorrentino is set to develop a documentary that offers an intimate look at the life and career of renowned Italian soccer coach Carlo Ancelotti. The project will explore Ancelotti’s five-decade journey in football, culminating as he prepares to lead Brazil’s national team during the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
Speculation surrounding the untitled documentary has circulated on Italian sports blogs for several weeks, but the project has now been officially confirmed.
This documentary aligns with Sorrentino’s longstanding passion for football, previously showcased in his Oscar-nominated film The Hand of God (2021). That film notably depicted his Neapolitan youth and familial challenges through the lens of football, specifically highlighting the impact of Diego Maradona on the local team.
This marks Sorrentino’s first documentary in a prolific 30-year career that includes acclaimed works such as The Great Beauty, the acclaimed series The Young Pope, and most recently, La Grazia, which features Toni Servillo as a president confronting complex moral dilemmas during his final days in office, a film that premiered at the Venice Film Festival last year.
Born to a farming family in Reggio Emilio, Ancelotti began as a midfielder for Parma, later playing for AS Roma and AC Milan. Transitioning into coaching in the early 1990s, he has since managed 11 clubs, including Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid, and has amassed an impressive 26 trophies, including five Champions League titles.
The documentary will blend archival footage of Ancelotti’s life with new footage taken in Italy, Spain, Brazil, and the U.S. during the forthcoming World Cup.
“It’s an honor to tell my story alongside the great Paolo Sorrentino. I’ve always admired his masterpieces and his commitment to artful storytelling,” Ancelotti commented on the collaboration.
The project is produced by Francesco Melzi d’Eril, known for his work on Luca Guadagnino’s Suspiria, Bones and All, and Call Me by Your Name. Collaborating producers include Chloe McClay, Celia Babini, and Buck Andrews from Tart Productions, along with Gabriele Moratti at MeMo Films. Eric Beard is serving as Executive Producer for Where is Football. The production involves partnerships with Fremantle and The Apartment.
FilmNation is handling the sales for the documentary, with Screen being the first to report the news of its production and sales acquisition.
