Davide Ancelotti didn't just grow up around football—he was practically raised on the training pitch. At just six years old, he'd tag along with his father, Carlo, then manager of Parma, and find himself taking shots against a young Gianluigi Buffon. Imagine that: a kid firing balls at a future legend, while Lilian Thuram and Fabio Cannavaro worked on the defensive habits that would later make them World Cup champions.

That early immersion set the stage for a remarkable coaching journey. Before earning his own badges, Davide served as assistant to his father—a five-time Champions League-winning manager—at Bayern Munich, Napoli, Everton, and Real Madrid. Now, after his first head coach role at Botafogo, he's preparing for this summer's World Cup as assistant coach of the Brazilian national team, working alongside Carlo once again.

Sitting down with BBC Sport's tactics expert, Davide shared the influences that shaped his coaching philosophy. "In football, it's difficult to say one manager inspires you," he explained. "You take things from different managers." His list reads like a who's who of modern tactics: Pep Guardiola for innovation, Jurgen Klopp for high pressing, Roberto De Zerbi for finding the third man, Diego Simeone for defensive structure, and Unai Emery for tactical detail. And, of course, his father, who came from the school of Arrigo Sacchi's zonal 4-4-2.

But Davide is quick to note he's not just a carbon copy. "I have a similar character, but I'm a different kind of manager," he said. "Creating my own identity is an ongoing process." For anyone who loves the game—whether you're coaching, playing, or just suiting up in your favorite kit—that blend of respect for tradition and hunger for innovation is what makes football endlessly fascinating.