Why Luca Guerra Left Davide Ancelotti’s Staff Ahead of Lille Move

Physical trainer Luca Guerra has emerged as the lone member of Davide Ancelotti’s former backroom team at Botafogo who did not join the Italian coach’s new staff at French club Lille. While assistant coaches Luis Tevenet and Andy Mangan made the transition to Ligue 1, Guerra’s departure marks a definitive split following a turbulent exit from the Brazilian club in late 2025.

The coaching shift comes as Davide Ancelotti embarks on only his second stint as a head coach. Following his tenure with the Rio de Janeiro side, Ancelotti briefly returned to his role as assistant to his father, Carlo Ancelotti, with the Brazil national team through the conclusion of the World Cup tournament.

At Lille, the newly appointed manager opted to restructure his performance staff by bringing in French fitness coach Benoit Delaval, who previously worked with OGC Nice. Delaval joins an incoming coaching group that features Spanish assistant Diego Nogales, formerly of Real Madrid’s youth system, French assistant Mickaël D’Amore, and goalkeeper coach Rémy Vercoutre.

The Backroom Shift at Lille

With Davide Ancelotti taking the reins at the French club, management moved quickly to assemble a familiar yet refreshed technical setup. Tevenet and Mangan remain central pillars of Ancelotti’s trusted inner circle, maintaining the tactical partnership that began during their time in South America.

Guerra, whose career prior to Botafogo included a stint with Croatian club NK Istra 1961, currently remains unattached according to data from Transfermarkt.

Botafogo Departure and Subsequent Paths

Guerra served as the physical trainer during Ancelotti’s spell at Botafogo, a period that culminated in late 2025 departures amid structural changes at the club known as the Glorioso. While his colleagues seamlessly transitioned into international football in France, Guerra’s immediate professional future remains open as the European season progresses.

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