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29 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 22 DECEMBER 2019 SPORTS FOOTBALL EVERTON have confirmed the ap- pointment of Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager, ahead of yesterday's early kick-off with Arsenal in the Premier League. The Italian coach has signed a four- and-a-half year deal at Goodison Park. He replaces Marco Silva, who was sacked following Everton's convincing 5-2 defeat to rivals Liverpool at the be- ginning of December. Ancelotti was relieved of his duties as Napoli boss last week despite guid- ing them to the knockout stages of the Champions League. Gennaro Gattuso has been installed as his replacement. Ancelotti said: "This is a great club with a rich history and a very passionate fan base. There is a clear vision from the Owner and the Board to deliver success and trophies. "That is something that appeals to me as a manager and I am thrilled at the prospect of being able to work with eve- rybody at the Club to help make that vi- sion a reality. "I have seen from the performances in the last two weeks that the players are capable of so much. The work Duncan has done is a great credit to him. Strong organisation, strong discipline and the right motivation are some of the key ingredients in football and I'm pleased that he will be part of my backroom team moving forward." Ancelotti arrives at the club with a wealth of experience across Europe's top divisions. In total, he's won 14 major honours in Italy, France, Spain, England and Ger- many. Marcel Brands, Everton's Director of Football, said: "Following a rigorous process conducted by all of our Direc- tors, it is a pleasure to now welcome Carlo Ancelotti to Everton. "He is one of the finest managers in world football and a proven winner, having achieved a remarkable level of success in each of Europe's major leagues. "He is the perfect appointment for us. He embraces our vision for the Club and we are sure that his enthusiasm to take the helm at Goodison together with his tactical abilities and well-renowned man-management will make him suc- cessful in this role. "This was a clear and exciting decision for the Board to make. It was a unani- mous choice and one we were all fully united behind throughout. "Carlo has proven time and again, he knows how to build a trophy-winning side and we share the excitement of our fans at the prospect of him leading our team in the years ahead. We're all greatly looking forward to working with him." He has previous experience of English football having managed Chelsea be- tween 2009 and 2011. Ancelotti was sacked despite guiding the Blues to the runners-up spot in the Premier League in his second season in charge. Since then, he went onto manage Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and PSG be- fore a switch back to Serie A - this time with Napoli. Carragher: Ancelotti an 'unbelievable coup' Speaking to Sky Sports, former Liver- pool defender Jamie Carragher praised the appointment by Merseyside rivals Everton. "I have to take my hat off to them if Everton pull this off," he said on Mon- day Night Football. "The Everton fans will be ecstatic. I'm surprised that Carlo Ancelotti would take the Everton job with the position that they are in in the league. "For Everton to get a manager of the calibre of Ancelotti would be an unbe- lievable coup for them. "The supporters have been complain- ing a lot about managers they've had in the past and why not, rather than spending a lot of money on the pitch, give them one of the real elite managers on big-money wages, someone who's a real top football coach. "In Ancelotti you are getting some- one who is right at the top of football. This is a man who Evertonians, if it comes off, can say has won more than Jurgen Klopp and has won Champions Leagues. "It gives them something to buy into with that manager." Does Ancelotti suit the role? There is little doubt that this is indeed a coup for Everton, but does Ancelotti suit the role at Goodison Park? Ancelotti's career has been built around adding perfection to sides al- ready near the top of their game, or those with a previous reputation of suc- cess. His time at PSG started and ended with the French giants top of Ligue 1, while he ensured that trophies returned to both AC Milan and Real Madrid. The impact was immediate during his time in Spain, while Real failed to secure the La Liga title, they did win the Cham- pions League in Ancelotti's first full sea- son in charge. For Everton, while they have been a regular Premier League feature, their last trophy came in 1996 when they lift- ed the Community Shield after winning the FA Cup the season before. They've failed to finish higher than fifth in any season since 2005 but have featured in European competition - that being the UEFA Cup/Europa League, with the round of 16 their furthest point. Consistency is likely to be the target for Ancelotti with a hope that trophies will eventually follow. The Toffees need to return to the top-six battle that they found themselves in between 2006 and 2014, and become regulars in European football again. Everton appoint Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager Carlo Ancelotti: New Everton boss pictured at Goodison ahead of their clash with Arsenal