Struggling Premier League side Everton have appointed Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti as their new head coach on a four-and-a-half-year deal.
The former Chelsea manager, who replaces Marco Silva who was sacked earlier this month, was in the stands at Goodison Park as the Toffees played out a 0-0 draw with Arsenal who also appointed Mikel Arteta as their new manager on Friday.
Ancelotti watched his new side for the first time with the club’s owner Farhad Moshiri and chairman Bill Kenwright as Duncan Ferguson continuing his caretaker role. The 60-year-old will then meet his new players and start his new role from Sunday.
The Italian’s first game will be at home to Burnley on Boxing Day. He will be assisted by club legend and interim manager Ferguson and his son Davide. His first major job is to take revive the club, who sit 16th in the Premier League table, three points above the relegation zone.
Ancelotti is a know serial winner and a manager who knows the Premier League very well having coached Chelsea between 2009 and 2011. He won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Community Shield during his spell at Stamford Bridge.
The Italian is also one of only three coaches to have won the Champions League three times. He won it twice with AC Milan and once with Real Madrid where he delivered La Decima, the club’s long-awaited tenth Champions League title. Ancelotti has also won domestic titles in Italy, England, France, Spain, and Germany.
Before his appointed as Everton manager, he was sacked recently as Napoli manager amidst off-field turmoil, despite guiding them into the Champions League last 16.
Speaking to Everton Tv after his appointment, Ancelotti said: “This is a great club with a rich history and a very passionate fan base. There is a clear vision from the owner and the board to deliver success and trophies.
“That is something that appeals to me as a manager and I am thrilled at the prospect of being able to work with everybody at the club to help make that vision a reality.
“I have seen from the performances in the last two weeks that the players are capable of so much. The work Duncan has done is a great credit to him.
“Strong organisation, strong discipline and the right motivation are some of the key ingredients in football and I’m pleased that he will be part of my backroom team moving forward.”
