In a surprising revelation, Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that he once dreamed of managing Liverpool—before his time with their city rivals, Everton, changed his perspective entirely.

Ancelotti, whose managerial career has spanned across top clubs like AC Milan, Chelsea, PSG, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Napoli, spent two seasons at Everton before returning to Real Madrid for a second stint. While his tenure at Everton was far from his most successful, it left a lasting impression on him—strong enough to shift his allegiance within Merseyside.

Speaking to Italian journalist Armando Ceroni, Ancelotti confessed,

“My dream was to coach Liverpool. But then I found myself at Everton. It was there that I truly experienced the rivalry and the hostile atmosphere between the two clubs. Now, I’m fully an Everton fan.”

He continued,

“I really enjoyed the environment there. The people of Liverpool have an intense passion for the colors they support. Everton fans create an electric atmosphere, especially during the Merseyside derbies—it remains one of the fiercest rivalries in the Premier League.”

Before joining Everton, Ancelotti had a short-lived spell at Napoli, and despite expectations, his time in Naples failed to leave a major mark. The Italian manager also revealed that prior to accepting the Napoli job, he was approached by the Italian Football Federation with an offer to manage the national team—an offer he declined.

Explaining his decision, Ancelotti said,

“I turned down the Italy job because I wasn’t interested. What truly excites me is being on the pitch every day, working with players in training. Coaching a national team feels more like a part-time role. I would lose a part of my passion doing that. That’s the only reason I said no.”

Currently in his fourth season of his second spell with Real Madrid, Ancelotti remains under contract until 2026. However, his future could be uncertain if Los Blancos end the campaign without silverware, sparking further speculation about where his managerial journey may take him next.

And while his Liverpool dream may have been buried by his time at Everton, fans on both sides of Merseyside may find his remarks a curious footnote in one of football’s most storied rivalries.