The return of Carlo Ancelotti to Everton Football Club almost definitely will not happen. But there is an intriguing link between the manager and incoming Everton owners The Friedkin Group.
The five times-winning Champions League manager left Everton to rejoin Real Madrid in 2021 after a season that started with Everton challenging the top of the Premier League until December before form trailed off for a mid-table finish.
Backed by the big-money signings of Doucoure, Allan and James Rodriguez, Ancelotti’s love of Crosby beach and desire to manage at Bramley Moore Stadium was obvious, but Everton’s impending financial meltdown, the desire to return to Real Madrid and compete at the top level of football, and a shocking home burglary saw him end his time at the club.
He left on good terms and Everton fan’s feelings on the manager remain positive and as rumours persist he will step down at the end of the season, with some reports suggesting Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso is already being lined up to face his former club, it may be that Ancelotti is seeking a new role in the summer.
Everton will almost certainly been searching for a new manager. Sean Dyche has done superbly to keep the club up in the most difficult of circumstances but a horrendous run of results and a poor playing style has left fans questioning his future. His contract runs out in the summer and the Friedkin Group will almost definitely be seeking a new manager for the 2025/26 season at the latest.
The Friedkin Group have a very particular way of working. They employ outside agencies to help with searches for key figures at clubs. They have already employed Nolan Partners to find Everton a new CEO.
However, previous managerial appointments at Roma have all centred around one agency: CAA Base. Originally a firm designed to help players and clubs make the most of the US market, it only moved into football when it signed up David Beckham in 2007. It has since represented Cristiano Ronaldo and, perhaps most notably, Jose Mourinho.
CAA Base was the firm behind Mourinho’s appointment at Roma and, despite a public falling out when he was sacked in January, the Friedkins and Mourinho have reportedly buried the hatchet. It could be the reason behind rumours linking Mourinho to Everton.
It also explains why Frank Lampard, another CAA Base client, was reportedly interviewed for the Roma role despite failing to impress in his last two top-level jobs. While he was not offered the job (Claudio Ranieri is not a CAA client but is very well known to the club having played and managed there) it shows CAA Base does have an influence with the Friedkins.
And here is the interesting link. Carlo Ancelotti is a CAA Base client. He’s not the only one. You could argue Kieran McKenna at Ipswich, Ange Postecoglou at Spurs, who is under pressure after poor results, and impressive Oxford manager Des Buckingham are more likely to be targeted if CAA are pushing their own clients. But it is an interesting link to a manager many would love to have back at Everton.
After all, three years ago he said: “I would like to be there when the new stadium will be opened. It will be a good achievement for me, of course.”
There is a second option. Carlo Ancelotti’s son Davide was a popular figure at Everton. Known for his excellent set piece coaching, he is a Continental Pro-licensed coach who is likely to take his first steps into management sooner rather than later.
He’s a clever coach. He can speak five languages and earned rave reviews from players at Everton and Real Madrid. He also has ambitions to be a manager and while at Everton ran training sessions and tactical plans on a daily basis. He earned huge praise from Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Jordan Pickford and Alex Iwobi in his time at the club for his considered, hands-on approach.
Iwobo said: “How hands on is Ancelotti? He does have his say but it’s his son (Davide) who does the talking, obviously he has his input as well.”
Meanwhile, Davide has also expressed his desire to be a manager one day, saying: “I want to be a manager one day and he is the best example I can have. I am really lucky to be his son, it is the best thing in the world if you want to be a manager.”
Interestingly, he was already linked to the Everton job in 2023 when Lampard departed Everton. The club opted for Dyche then but he could be an option now. An interesting option would be to offer the role to Davide with Carlo in a boardroom capacity as a guide and mentor, while acting as an ambassador for the club and an extra member of coaching staff. A pipe dream probably, but a fun thought experiment.