Carlo Ancelotti (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti admits he once dreamed of managing Liverpool and turned down an offer to coach the Italian national team in 2018.
Carlo Ancelotti has confessed that managing Liverpool was once his “dream” job, even though he never got the opportunity. The current Real Madrid boss also revealed he rejected an offer to coach the Italy national team in 2018, citing his love for daily work on the training pitch.
Ancelotti, speaking in an interview with Italian journalist Armando Ceroni for Swiss station RSI, reflected on a key moment in his career. After Brendan Rodgers was dismissed by Liverpool in October 2015, Ancelotti was reportedly in the mix to take over — but the Reds ultimately hired Jürgen Klopp, who led the club into a new golden era.
“My dream was to coach Liverpool,” Ancelotti admitted. “But then I found myself at Everton and I experienced their rivalry, and now I am absolutely an Everton fan. I really liked the environment because there is a spectacular passion for the colours. You also notice the suffering that the fan has for Liverpool, which for many years and still today is the best in the Premier League.”
Ancelotti later coached Everton between 2019 and 2021 before returning to Real Madrid. During his spell at Goodison Park, he became a beloved figure among Toffees fans despite the intense Merseyside rivalry with Liverpool.
The Italian tactician also confirmed that he had the chance to become Italy’s manager in 2018 following the team's failure to qualify for the World Cup. However, he declined the offer.
“I said no to the Italian national team because I didn’t feel like it,” Ancelotti explained. “I really like being on the pitch every day preparing for training, and the national team seemed like a part-time job that made me lose a bit of passion.”
Ancelotti's contract with Real Madrid runs until 2026, but challenges lie ahead. Los Blancos trail Barcelona by four points in the La Liga title race and must overturn a 3-0 first-leg deficit against Arsenal in the Champions League quarter-finals.
The decisive second leg takes place at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, and if Madrid fail to mount a comeback, questions may resurface about Ancelotti’s future in the Spanish capital.
Written by Barbara Cerar, Editor-in-Chief at en.nogomania.com. Follow us for more stories from international football.