Former Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti has reflected on his time at the club and picked out his best transfer
Carlo Ancelotti during a press conference
Carlo Ancelotti has reflected on his time at Everton (Image: MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP via Getty Images)
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Carlo Ancelotti may have helped bring James Rodriguez to Everton during his time as manager, but he has argued that another star was his best signing. The veteran Italian coach believes that Jarrad Branthwaite was the club’s top transfer during his spell at Goodison Park.
After parting ways with Marco Silva in December 2019, Everton announced the bold appointment of Ancelotti as his permanent successor. The Champions League-winning coach had only recently left Napoli and boasted an incredible CV, having won league titles with Chelsea, PSG and Bayern Munich during the 2010s.
Everton won eight and drew six of Ancelotti’s first 20 league games in charge as the Toffees finished 12th. His reunions with the likes of Rodriguez and Napoli midfielder Allan would come the following summer, but Ancelotti believes his best decision was giving the green light for Everton to sign a teenage Branthwaite in January 2020.
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“We finished in 12th place, three places higher than when I joined at Christmas. It was clear that the squad needed strengthening,” Ancelotti recalled in his new book The Dream, co-written with Chris Brady. “The biggest player at Everton was the England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, and there were good strikers in Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.
“There was very little break between the end of one season and the start of the next and I used it to recruit two former players: Allan, the Brazilian who played as a defensive midfielder at Napoli, and James Rodríguez from Real Madrid. Abdoulaye Doucoure joined from Watford.
“Also, and perhaps my best bit of business, was to OK getting Jarrad Branthwaite back from Carlisle United as soon as I arrived. He had been at our academy but was maturing fast at Carlisle and £1 million was good value. I was certain that he had a big future ahead of him.”
Jarrad Branthwaite warming up for Everton
Jarrad Branthwaite made five appearances under Carlo Ancelotti
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Everton signed Branthwaite from his hometown club after the young defender had played 14 games for the League Two side. Six months later, a string of injuries saw the untested 18-year-old thrown into Premier League action and his displays were lauded by Ancelotti.
Following a 1-0 win over Sheffield United in July 2020, Ancelotti said of the teenager: "It was a good performance, focused. What surprised me is the fact that, when he makes a mistake, he never loses confidence. He's always there focused, concentrating, calm.
"He has a really good character apart from the quality he is able to show. It's just the start. As I've said before we have to be patient with him, but he's a really good defender. Good with the ball, always focused.
"I know his character, he's really focused and humble. It's a pleasure for us to have this young player. I have to say that our scouting department did a fantastic job finding him in a lower division."
David Moyes and Jarrad Branthwaite
Everton manager David Moyes will hope to soon have Jarrad Branthwaite back in his team
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Branthwaite played just five games under Ancelotti, who returned to Real Madrid in June 2021, but the centre-back clearly left a lasting impression. The talented prospect was subsequently loaned out to Blackburn Rovers and PSV Eindhoven before establishing his place in the Everton team two years ago.
The 23-year-old has not featured for David Moyes’ side so far this season due to injury. However, Branthwaite signing a new five-year contract in July was arguably one of the club’s most significant pieces of business during the summer transfer window.
As the defender nears a return to fitness, Branthwaite will hope to force his way into England manager Thomas Tuchel’s plans ahead of the World Cup. The Everton star could potentially reunite with his old boss at next summer’s major tournament as Ancelotti is currently in charge of Brazil.