BEVERLY HILLS, June 01, (THEWILL) – In a post-season traffic of managers that has seen some coaches leave abruptly like Antonio Conte from Inter Milan, some exit unexpectedly like Zinedine Zidane from Real Madrid, and some return to their former clubs like Massimiliano Allegri to Juventus, another manager is on his way to a club where he previously had a successful spell.
La Liga former champions Real Madrid are in the final stages of a return to the Santiago Bernabeu of the immensely experienced Carlo Ancelotti, currently the manager of English Premier League side Everton FC.
It had been a shopping process for the Madrid juggernauts in search of a new manager to take the position vacated by immediate former coach Zinedine Zidane, who exited the club after a second season of his second coming to Madrid as manager, ended with a trophyless run in the 2020/2021 campaign.
The media was awash with several names that the club was said to be considering for one of the most prestigious positions in club football across the continent and in the world. The names that came up were both solid hands and trial balloons because it was a mix of Mauricio Pochettino, Antonio Conte, Raul Gonzalez and Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez.
Of all these, the Italian tactician, Ancelotti of Everton, is the candidate that got the nod of the club’s management and he will be announced as Real’s new manager in the next few hours, as the meticulous details are being carefully worked out to the end before a public statement will be made.
Real had to go with Ancelotti because one of their initial options, Mauricio Pochettino, manager of Paris Saint-Germain, was stopped from discussing his future with Los Blancos by the Parisian club. Furthermore, they also could not get Conte especially given the tricky circumstances under which he left Serie A champions Inter.
Ancelotti was the least problematic option and the least conflicting bet as the manager previously enjoyed a two-year spell at the Santiago Bernabeu between 2013 and 2015. In his first season, Ancelotti led Real to Champions League glory.
The confirmation of his re-appointment by the Real management will be publicised from the team’s official channels and across the social media platforms they use.
However, as Los Blancos get their man, they leave a huge burden on the necks of the EPL side they are poaching their replacement manager from: Everton. The Toffees will be back in the manager hunting business just 18 months after they secured Ancelotti’s signature move to the Goodison Park dugout.
Although his coming brought a difference to the play and performances of the club in the just concluded season, the objective to help the Toffees challenge at the top end of the Premier League table, which a high profile managers like Ancelotti was believed to initiate did not materialise. They were unable to make top six and therefore finished outside of the top and second tier of European qualifications for next season.
Though they started promisingly, injuries to Brazilian Richarlison and solid forward, James Rodriguez, at different points in the season affected their 2020/21 campaign as Everton fell away. Their home form did not help considering the matches they lost at Goodison Park. They could only console themselves with a 10th finish in the league standings.
Where they will find the manager to up that ante will be the fresh headache for the Toffees management and they will have to act fast to take advantage of the preseason period, which will help the new manager they bring in acclimate to the squad comfortably before the 2021/2022 season kicks off.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
