In 2015, after Carlo Ancelotti was relieved of his duties as the manager of Los Blanco, he was reportedly poised to the future opportunity in Santiago Bernabeu as he was caught saying “YES” to the opaques question asked by a reporter that ‘If Florentino Perez comeback would you come ?’.
Fast forward to 2021, the former Everton boss is confirmed as the manager of Real Madrid after Zinedine Zidane walked out of his job just after the end of the 2020-21 campaign without a trophy. Despite the best sportsbooks tipping Real Madrid as the favorite to scoop the Spanish Premiere division at the beginning of the season at 5/6 odds ahead of Barcelona at 7/4 and the actual winner, Atletico Madrid at 10/1 and Sevilla who came fourth at 33/1.
Madrid will however be going to the 2021/2022 season with their former boss who just left the Merseyside for the Spanish capital.
Although, the Everton fans are beginning to see the bright future with Ancelotti and would have loved to see the Toffees thrive with their excellent signing in the just concluded Premier League. However, the departure of Ancelotti from Goodison Park would hinder the progress that might just begin to materialize in the coming season.
But with his early departure, the Merseyside blue club will have time to appoint a new manager that can carry on the rebuilding legacy left behind by the Italian tactician.
Here Are 5 Candidates Who Could Replace Carlo Ancelotti At Everton
- Leonardo Jardim
Jardim is yet to prove himself in the big league, although his meticulous achievement in Ligue 1 displacing the Paris Saint-Germain mega team as the champion of France in 2017 with an unknown team that comprises of the now French golden boy Kylian Mbappe, Sidibe, Raggi, Jemerson, Mendy, Silva, Fabinho, Bakayoko, Lemar, and the team’s captain Rademel Falcao.
More so, the Portuguese, Venezuelan-born tactician might not have been managing a team in the Premier League where many assumed that the best tactician are been tested. However, his astonishing and brilliant tactic that ensures that almighty Manchester City could not advance beyond the quarter-finals of the Champions League is credible enough to understand his insight and ability to make it at the highest level of the game.
Adding Joao Moutinho, and Kamil Glik to the core of a brilliant young side that won Ligue 1, and has since been asset-stripped to leave only two of that collection of players still at the club at the end of the glorified season they had in the 2016/2017 season.
Moreover, it is of little wonder that Leonardo Jardim who led that entertaining and exhilarating Monaco side to glory struggled, but was the only one that could clear up the mess left by Thierry Henry when he returned to the club.
With the Goodison Park outfit, the Portuguese will be having a more robust and finance needed to do a Leicester, as he might facilitate the rebuilding process started by a brilliant coach that left for greener pasture.
- Patrick Vieira
Many are left wondering why the former Arsenal captain had to leave a comfort zone in Major League Soccer, after he guided the New York City FC to their first-ever 4th place in the Eastern conference in 2016, while he furthers the quest to reach 2nd place in the following season.
But a 7th place finish with Nice in his first season in Ligue 1 suggests the former Manchester City midfielder could have something to offer should any EPL side be willing to take the gamble on the Premier League 2021 Hall of Fame nominee.
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However, the question remains to be answered, is the Former Nice manager finally ready for a long-awaited return to the Premier League shores?
Although, he is yet to prove himself to be a winner in the dugout as he was as a player, and his achievement in the United State with New York City FC and Nice in France could easily pave the way for him provided Everton are looking for a tactician rather than a manager.
His recognition alone should guarantee he makes the shortlist for any English top-flight job that comes available even if the Merseyside club is not looking in his way, but for the Toffees, he is worth the shot.
- Rafa Benitez
Winning one Champions League with Liverpool, despite earning three semifinals with the Red in 2005, 2007, and 2008, while reaching the final twice.
More so, the Spanish coach is a former Chelsea and Newcastle United manager who has achieved lots in the Premier League, barring the fact he was successful in his bid to ensure that Newcastle escapes relegation in 2016, but nothing can be taken away from the manager who had won so much.
The former Liverpool manager is reportedly having his heart set on a return to English football and Premier League to be precise after calling time on an uneventful spell in China.
While Newcastle fans still harbor the hopes of seeing their loyal coach back at St James’ Park in the near future, the former Real Madrid boss is likely to proceed with caution when he makes his next move due to his tense relationship with Mike Ashley during his last spell in Premier League.
Benitez has a shared history with the former Everton boss, as he was appointed to replace Ancelotti in 2015. He equally manages a Chelsea side that had previously been managed by the Italian. And now with Everton, it could be the easiest decision for the Toffees, as the Spanish tactician could easily carry on where Ancelotti left, and Benitez’s CV suggests he does have a fondness for clubs with a fanatical fanbase.
- Ernesto Valverde
Although, pundits, fans, and the lover of the game are yet to give the Spanish tactician his deserved respect.
Valverde in his two and a half seasons at Barcelona won two La Liga titles and was relieved of his duty while topping the table despite losing the inaugural Super Cup semifinal to Atletico Madrid in an un-fashioned way. However, the former Villareal boss is an outstanding coach who can manage his resources to a better result.
The 56-year-old fell victim to the powers tussle that be at Barcelona at the start of 2020, but given the pandemonium that erupted since Valverde left Camp Nou, many could well believe that the Spaniard is a good coach who despite having an aging squad, managed to scoop the La Liga twice before he was sacked.
With Everton, the Spaniard’s image could well be greatly amended should the Toffees considered his CV, experience, and winning stats.
With two La Liga titles under his belt plus a track record of success in a foreign country ( 3 titles with Olympiakos), took Athletic Bilbao back into the Champions League and even won their first silverware in over 40 years despite the dominance of Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The Spaniard might be the only coach that can guarantee success for the Toffees, Valverde has a CV he can rightly be proud of, and his good grasp of English ticks a big box for the Merseyside club.
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- Maurizio Sarri
Many might have been looking down on his philosophy, triangular tactics, and off-the-ball awareness, but it all seems unfair as no brilliant tactician can accidentally manage two of the biggest clubs in Europe to silverware and most especially in modern football.
Sarri among fans, players, and the media is seen as an oddball, an archaic and stereotyped tactician. There seem to be few who warm to the Italian coach, but nothing can be taken from the way he has transformed Napoli into title contenders, his delivery of silverware and Champions League football at Chelsea, and his Serie A title at Juventus.
Although, anyone could argue that just about any manager could win the title with Juventus, with which such theory was negated by the recently sacked Andrea Pirlo, who was appointed as the successor of Sarri after a year under Sarri when almost nobody felt the love.
However, it was reported that the Scudetto was actually scooped because of Sarri’s ingenuity rather than lost by Pirlo despite his love.
With Sarri’s approach to the game, Everton would be having a handful of an experienced tactician, who is well versed with the Premier League intensified game and will be coming with a new idea after a year’s absence from the game.
