Premier League strugglers Everton decided against stepping up their interest in Davide Ancelotti due to the ‘substantial risk’ of appointing such an inexperienced manager in the midst of a relegation battle, according to The Athletic.
The sheer variety of Everton’s managerial targets, after putting Frank Lampard out of his misery last month, hardly painted the picture of a club with a clear, coherent plan.
You’d struggle to find two men more different – in terms of their personality and tactical blueprint – than Marcelo Bielsa and Sean Dyche. One thing both had in common, at least, was a proven track record in the Premier League.
You can’t say the same of Marcelino Garcia Toral; a 57-year-old Spaniard who had never taken charge of a club outside of his homeland. According to The Athletic, former Valencia, Villarreal and Athletic Bilbao coach Marcelino was ‘sounded out’ by Everton. Farhad Moshiri and co eventually turned their attention elsewhere.
There is, meanwhile, a 34-year age gap – not to mention a gulf of experience – between tactical veteran Bielsa and relative whippersnapper Davide Ancelotti.
Everton hired Burnley legend Sean Dyche after considering Davide Ancelotti
The son of former Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti, Davide is one of Europe’s most admired young coaches. There is a reason why he played such a key role behind the scenes at Goodison Park, and now accompanies his father on the Real Madrid bench. And it’s nothing to do with nepotism.
“Davide is a competent, disciplined, professional and very calm assistant coach. He’s here because he’s a good professional, not because he’s my son,” Ancelotti Sr explains. “I think we’ll see him turn into a very good coach in the future.”
“Davide is a very good coach,” adds Everton defender Mason Holgate (Daily Mail). “Unbelievable to be honest. One of the best I have worked with.
‘He is similar to his dad, calm and easy to speak to. You can speak to him about many things, not just football. He is a really good coach and owns what he is talking about.”
Davide Ancelotti thriving alongside Carlo at Real Madrid
Regardless of how Ancelotti is viewed in wider footballing circles, hiring a 33-year-old who has never before taken sole charge of a professional team – when Everton’s Premier League status is hanging by a thread – is unlikely to have gone down too well with a disillusioned Toffees fanbase.
The Athletic believe that Moshiri held discussions over Davide Ancelotti. Any initial interest was put to bed, however; Everton weighing up the potential pitfalls of such a risky appointment.
Dyche, in contrast, is more-than capable of building a Premier League team far more than the sum of it’s parts. All the while, fighting successfully against the dreaded drop. The Burnley legend faces about as tough a start as it’s possible to imagine, however; leaders Arsenal travelling to Goodison Park this weekend.
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