Everton ‘launch talks with sacked Juventus boss Andrea Pirlo’ as Italian joins Nuno Espirito Santo and Steven Gerrard on Toffees’ shortlist to replace Real Madrid-bound Carlo Ancelotti
- Everton fans were left stunned this week as Carlo Ancelotti quit for Real Madrid
- Nuno Espirito Santo, Rafa Benitez and Steven Gerrard are all in contention
- Andrea Pirlo was sacked by Juventus this summer, and has joined the race
- The Italian maestro is reportedly in talks with the Toffees to take charge
Andrea Pirlo is ready to jump straight back into management after his Juventus sacking, entering talks to replace his old AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti at Everton.
The Italian maestro lifted silverware through the Coppa Italia last season but a dismal title defence and an increasingly unsettled Cristiano Ronaldo saw him booted out of Turin.
Everton fans were stunned to read of Carlo Ancelotti’s departure earlier this week, three years before the end of his Goodison deal. The 61-year-old had spoken of lifting the Toffees into the Champions League spots, but has instead headed back to Real Madrid for a second spell.
Andrea Pirlo is in line to be the next Everton manager after the departure of Carlo Ancelotti
Ancelotti has promised Champions League football at Everton but jumped-ship to Real Madrid
Pirlo never brought his graceful style to the Premier League as a player but could now be heading for Merseyside, with Calcio Mercato reporting that Everton are in talks with the 41-year-old, and will make a decision in the coming days.
The Italian could opt for a lower-profile job, with Sassuolo and Verona also claimed to be interested.
Pirlo was thrust in the high-pressure Juve hot-seat just nine days after being named the club’s under-23 coach, replacing Mauricio Sarri.
Midfielder Adrian Rabio admitted one reason for Pirlo’s struggles in Turin: ‘Maybe because some of us didn’t understand his ideas as well as we could have, like defending with a 4-4-2 and then changing formations in the other phases, maybe going out of your preferred role.
Pirlo was sacked at the end of the season by Juve after his title defence finished in just fourth
The former Italian midfielder could replace his old AC Milan boss at the Merseyside club
‘However, I sent him a message to say that he deserved a little more time to demonstrate the quality of his ideas. Unfortunately in today’s football, at certain levels, there is no time.’
The report also details the Toffees’ interest in Claudio Ranieri, the hero of Leicester’s 2016 title victory.
The former Chelsea, Fulham and Juventus boss has left Sampdoria this summer, with the Serie A side in far better nick than they were when the veteran boss arrived.
Ranieri steered the club away from relegation in 2019-20 after joining seven games into the season, before securing ninth place last term.
