- Carlo Ancelotti managed Everton with his son, Davide as his assistant before leaving the club in 2021.
- The 36-year-old is now assisting Carlo Ancelotti at Brazil ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Davide Ancelotti spent 18 months at Everton as assistant to his father, Carlo Ancelotti, between December 2019 and June 2021. He led training sessions at Finch Farm alongside Duncan Ferguson and was reportedly offered the chance to manage the club after Frank Lampard’s sacking in January 2023.
Now, the 36‑year‑old has revealed details of his near‑miss with Rangers. Evertonians may wonder if he could ever return to Merseyside as head coach.
Speaking on a BBC Sounds podcast, Ancelotti opened up about his conversations with Rangers for their managerial vacancy last summer.
Ancelotti: ‘The process went well but they didn’t pick me’
Ancelotti confirmed that he went through an interview process for the Ibrox job, which ultimately went to Russell Martin. The move lasted just 17 games before Martin was sacked.
“Yeah, it (Rangers) was a club that I had conversations with. There is an interview process as always now in modern football where you have to go through,” Ancelotti said.
“I went through this process well, but then at the end they have to pick one, and they didn’t pick me. But the process went well and the relationship with the club is good, and I appreciate the fact that they considered me for the job.”
He added: “At interviews, you have to answer a lot of questions about your philosophy, about how you train, about how you cope with the pressure and the media. But at the end of the day, until you see a manager working on a daily basis, it’s difficult to evaluate.”
Could Ancelotti ever manage Everton?
Ancelotti eventually got his first head coach role at Botafogo in July 2025. He lasted only until December before leaving following a bust‑up with the club’s hierarchy. He has since returned to his role as assistant to his father with the Brazil national team, where the pair could make history by guiding the Selecao to a record sixth World Cup title this summer.
During his time at Everton, Davide was highly rated. He worked alongside Duncan Ferguson and was credited with bringing modern coaching methods to Finch Farm. Various reports even claimed he was offered the Everton job in 2023 after Lampard’s departure.
Should he add another string to his bow by helping Brazil win the World Cup, his stock as a future head coach would rise significantly. And who knows? One day, the younger Ancelotti could return to Everton to take up the hotseat his father vacated in 2021.
For now, Everton fans can reflect on what might have been and what still could be. Davide Ancelotti has unfinished business in management, and his connection to Merseyside remains strong. Rangers’ loss could eventually be Everton’s gain one day.
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