Ten points from four league games, courtesy of three wins and a draw. Lille sit top of Ligue 1, with the only dropped points coming against PSG, and even then they surrendered the lead only in stoppage time. The strong start is no accident. It comes after a summer of sweeping change: the departures of Bouaddi and Fernández-Pardo, the arrivals of Ueda and Onal, the emergence of players such as Ngoy, Tiago Santos and Haraldsson. And, above all, the arrival of Davide Ancelotti on the bench.
Davide Ancelotti’s career has been built on study and graft. As a youngster, he tried his hand at playing, without much success. At 20, he decided to call time on his playing career and begin coaching instead. He spent the first part of his career alongside his father, initially as a fitness coach and then, after earning his UEFA A Licence, which qualifies him to work as an assistant, as his number two. First at Napoli, then Everton, and finally Real Madrid and Brazil. In 2023, he also earned his UEFA Pro Licence, allowing him to take charge of a professional team as a head coach. Then, in 2025, came his first job in his own right. Botafogo decided to give him a chance, but the spell ended after 33 games.
In the summer, Lille came calling. Ancelotti brought a clear set of ideas from the outset: a 4-2-3-1, attacking football, and a blend of youth and experience, from Ethan Mbappé to Olivier Giroud and Nabil Bentaleb, the captain against Troyes in the latest game. The positive start made by LOSC – Lille Olympique Sporting Club – owes something, too, to the advice of Carlo Ancelotti, who has since renewed his contract and remained in charge of Brazil. Davide spoke about it himself: “My father calls me after every game to talk about it, to analyse it. It’s our routine.”
A routine that appears to be working, much like Ancelotti’s relationship with Olivier Létang, the president and strategist building Lille’s present and future: when Létang was sporting director at PSG, he developed a close relationship with both Ancelotti senior and his son. A few months ago, after Bruno Génésio’s departure, he decided to call Davide. So far, it has proved a shrewd decision, despite one particularly painful defeat – Lille twice took the lead before eventually losing 3-2 – in their Champions League opener against Real Betis. Their league form suggests it was an isolated setback. Now comes the interesting part: seeing just how far Ancelotti and LOSC can take this.