Why Carlo Ancelotti Is Totally the Wrong Manager for Everton Right Now

18 December 2019 16:39

​It's not hard to see why Everton fans are so enamoured with the idea of Carlo Ancelotti being their manager. 

Carletto - as he is more affectionately known - has a trophy cabinet that envies any manager in history. The guy has won three Champions Leagues, four domestic league titles and a spate of personal honours for goodness sake, why on earth wouldn't the ambitious Toffees go for him? 

As well as his impressive list of triumphs, the 60-year-old speaks perfect English and has enjoyed Premier League success in the past - securing Chelsea a league and FA Cup double during the 2009/10 campaign. 

Chelsea's Italian manager Carlo Ancelott

He also comes with a glowing list of recommendations from some of the best players in the history of the game. Fabio Cannavaro, David Beckham, John Terry, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paolo Maldini and an endless list of others have all lavished praise on Ancelotti in the past. 

However, Carletto is not the man that Everton need right now.

To explain why, it is first necessary to examine what has made Ancelotti such a success in his managerial career. 

In an era where all the top coaches seem to have a distinct tactical identity, the Italian has maintained a high level of pragmatism in this area, instead relying on his world class communication skills to get the best out of his team. 

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Another nickname bestowed on Ancelotti during his career is the 'Diva Whisperer' due to his superhuman ability to massage the egos of some pretty challenging superstar footballers.

​Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, ​Real Madrid and ​Bayern Munich - possibly the five most intimidating dressing rooms for a manager to face. The fact that Ancelotti has been able to operate in each of them without, generally speaking, making many enemies is quite remarkable and testament to his motivational abilities. 

There are literally tens of quotes I could have chosen to illustrate this point but I feel this soundbite from Michael Ballack (via ​FourFourTwo from Omnisport), who worked with the Diva Whisperer at Stamford Bridge, best sums up the Italian's management style. 

Chelsea's Italian manager Carlo Ancelott

​"He has it all, the complete package. He has authority, experience, and is a global player. He has a connection to his players to generate a warm atmosphere. No matter the performance of the club, whether it is good or bad, he always finds a way to get a player back on track."


The ultimate footballing communicator then? What are waiting for ​Everton, sign him up. Well... hold fire for now.


As much as Ancelotti's man-management is impressive, a man of his highly-specific skill set is simply not suited to the colossal rebuilding job that is required at Goodison Park.


Throughout his career so far, Carletto has acted as unifying force, tempering discord in a talented dressing room and generally providing welcome relief from a far more tactically and psychologically demanding manager. 

Carlo Ancelotti

Arriving at ​Chelsea and Real Madrid to pick up the pieces from José Mourinho's tenure at both clubs and replacing Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich, Ancelotti's comparably laid-back approach initially gained good results. 


At Bayern though, reports emerged that the players - who were initially thankful for the dip in intensity - began to ​organise secret training sessions as they become frustrated with his relaxed demeanour. Instances such as this raise questions as to whether the Italian's laid-back approach is capable with the modern game's desire for as much information and preparation as possible. 


At Everton, Ancelotti has a team lacking in direction and talent who will simply not benefit from his laid-back approach. 

What the Toffees need right now is an intense and committed individual, equipped to develop a coherent style and approach for the club to adopt - not just someone who Richarlison can refer to as 'Uncle Carlo' in the media. 

Ancelotti is also ill-equipped to head up Everton's recruitment drive. Over several transfer windows, the Toffees have made a string of underwhelming signings with Alex Iwobi and Moise Kean the latest names to add to the 'expensive mistakes pile' alongside Cenk Tosun and Davy Klaassen.

The club are supposedly planning a significant remoulding of the side in the summer in what could potentially be Ancelotti's first transfer window at a non-elite club since the start of his career. Is he really the man to help director of football Marcel Brands to attract the type of young, hungry player that the club needs to develop? A report linking the Toffees with a 38-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic would suggest not.

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Overall, Ancelotti is very good at what he does. It's just a shame that what he does is a million miles away from what Everton need doing right now. 


What Everton need is a younger, more exciting coach who can shape a club that is lacking in long-term vision and identity, in their image. Sorry Carlo, that's just not you mate.

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Source: 90min