Carlo Ancelotti quits Everton for Real Madrid return

Italian manager replaces Zidane at the La Liga club

Carlo Ancelotti took over as Everton manager in December 2019. Reuters

Carlo Ancelotti has resigned as manager of Everton and will return for a second spell in charge at Real Madrid.

Ancelotti, who joined Everton on a four-and-a-half-year contract in December 2019, will take over from Zinedine Zidane, who quit Los Blancos last week for a second time after failing to win a trophy last season.

The Italian, who guided Everton to a 10th-placed finish in the Premier League, managed Real between 2013 and 2015. Ancelotti has signed a three-year deal at the club and said the La Liga move represented "an unexpected opportunity".

He told Everton's website: "I would like to thank the board of directors, the players, and the Evertonians for the tremendous support they have all given me during my time at the club.

"I have complete respect for everyone associated with Everton and hope they can achieve the exciting opportunities they have in front of them.

"While I have enjoyed being at Everton I have been presented with an unexpected opportunity which I believe is the right move for me and my family at this time."

Ancelotti steadied the ship in his first season at Everton, after taking over from Marco Silva. But his second ­campaign ended disappointingly with poor home form costing them a chance of qualifying for European competition.

A statement from Goodison Park said: “Everton would like to place on record its thanks to Carlo for his service to the club over the past 18 months.

“The club will begin the process of appointing a new manager immediately and will provide updates in due course.”

During his first spell at the Bernabeu, Ancelotti led Real to victory in the 2014 Champions League final against rivals Atletico Madrid, as well as Copa del Rey, Uefa Super Cup and Club World Cup glory that year.

However, he was sacked in 2015 after ending the season without a major trophy, after which he went on to manage Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and then Serie A side Napoli, before joining Everton.