Carlo Ancelotti walked into Goodison Park on Monday as perhaps the Premier League’s most venerable manager.
But even a man with five European Cup winner’s medals at home can have bad days and the 60-year-old laughed as he recalled one of them.
‘I was sacked here by Chelsea in the corridor down there,’ smiled Ancelotti. ‘I think you have to put a little plaque there now: Here was sacked Carlo...’
And so began the 10th managerial stint of the Italian’s career.
His previous one in the Premier League ended after Chelsea lost the final game of the 2010-11 season 1-0 at Everton.
Few expected him to be back here — not at his relatively advanced age. Indeed, after his recent sacking by Napoli, he was preparing for Christmas in Vancouver with his Canadian wife Mariann when the phone rang.
‘I was convinced immediately and it was easy to make the decision,’ he said.
‘To come back to the Premier League was important for me because it is the best competition in the world.
‘This is a club with a lot of tradition and history and they want to improve. I am excited and I have even brought some Italian weather with me.’
The sun was indeed shining Monday on a big day for Everton. Not only a new manager but finally the submission of plans for a new stadium down by the Mersey.
But if it felt like a new start, it is important to remember that the club have been here before.
Everton have lurched from manager to manager in recent years, spending money wildly on a group of players who have taken them only further into the shadow of neighbours Liverpool.
As somebody pointed out to Ancelotti on Monday, he has joined the fourth most prominent club in the north west and that is a heck of a leap of faith for a manager who twice won the European Cup as a player with AC Milan and then the Champions League three times as a manager — twice with Milan and then in 2014 with Real Madrid.
‘It will not be easy and it takes time,’ he said after signing a four-and-half-year contract.
‘Manchester United and Manchester City are very strong teams and strong clubs but slowly I think we can reach a good level in the competition and hopefully we can play in Europe.’
Ancelotti was in the stands as Everton laboured to a goalless draw at home to Arsenal on Saturday. He was able to witness the club’s problems first-hand.
Talking about the squad he has inherited from Marco Silva, he referred several times to players such as Leighton Baines and Seamus Coleman.
Both have been fine players for the club and, if there were nine more like them, then Ancelotti may not have been needed in the first place.
But the fact is that the squad at Goodison Park is light in many areas and Ancelotti will know this. Beside him at a press conference on Monday was Everton director of football Marcel Brands and, if the pressure is on the new coach to perform, then the spotlight should also be on the Dutchman who is nominally in charge of recruitment.
Ancelotti claimed on Monday that he has not yet discussed new players. Nine days before the transfer window, that was hard to believe.
Equally, he was right when he said it is up to the current team to approach with new focus a set of Christmas and New Year fixtures comprising Premier League games with Burnley, Newcastle and City.
Known for his man management skills, Ancelotti may well need them. ‘I am not a sergeant,’ he said. ‘I like the players to take responsibility for themselves and for discipline. It is really important.
‘I can use the whip sometimes but I don’t like to because no one used the whip in my life against me. I don’t want to be over the players but I don’t want to be below them either.
‘For me, the player has to understand quickly how I want the relationship.
‘And, after that, you have to put in place a system of play that the players are comfortable with. And that’s it.
‘I saw the last four games and I have loved the spirit of the team.
‘They were really tough, well organised defensively but we can play better football offensively, I am sure.’
The Everton team, unbeaten in three games under caretaker boss Duncan Ferguson, will probably be pleased to know the Scot stays as part of Ancelotti’s staff.
‘I had Claude Makelele (in the coaching team) at PSG and Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid,’ said Ancelotti. ‘It’s good to have a former player. Duncan understands the players and the club.’
That sounded like firm logic from a man of experience but it will be Carlo’s way from now on.
Some managers are like old golfers. They don’t give it up, they just change their clubs.