Carlo Ancelotti has left Everton to become head coach of Real Madrid for a second time.

The 61-year-old Italian, who managed Real Madrid for two years between 2013 and 2015, has left Everton after 18 months in charge at Goodison Park.

He succeeds Zinedine Zidane at Real and the move leaves Everton searching for a sixth permanent manager in five years.

Ancelotti has signed a three-year deal at Real and said the move represented “an unexpected opportunity”.

He added: “I have complete respect for everyone associated with Everton and hope they can achieve the exciting opportunities they have in front of them.

“While I have enjoyed being at Everton I have been presented with an unexpected opportunity which I believe is the right move for me and my family at this time.”

Real will present Ancelotti to the media on Wednesday, while Everton said they “will begin the process of appointing a new manager immediately”.

‘A brutal truth’ – analysis
Everton will have been left stunned by the speed of developments in the last 24 hours as owner Farhad Moshiri’s “Hollywood” manager leaves.

Ancelotti’s arrival was regarded as a real coup by Moshiri, persuading one of the game’s most decorated and respected figures to come to Merseyside to restore Everton to former glories.

The 61-year-old’s reign has been a mixed bag with dreadful home form balanced out by results like their first win over Liverpool at Anfield since 1999 – but ultimately a 10th-place finish in his first full season was a disappointment.

Ancelotti, however, was still held in huge regard by Everton supporters, who have been left bitterly disappointed by his decision to depart.

The brutal truth is that for all Moshiri’s finance and ambition, Everton still cannot regard themselves as anywhere near the elite, which always makes them vulnerable to clubs such as Real Madrid setting sights on their prize assets.

The usual suspects are being linked, such as Eddie Howe after he turned down Celtic, former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo and ex-Everton boss David Moyes – although that is unlikely to happen after he verbally agreed a three-year deal at West Ham after taking them into Europe. Moshiri, though, is something of a wildcard and may have ideas of his own.

A man to overturn Real’s woes
Ancelotti has won 15 major trophies during his career and is one of only three managers to win three European Cups – along with Liverpool legend Bob Paisley and former Real boss Zidane.

The Italian has domestic titles with AC Milan in his homeland, Chelsea in England, Paris St-Germain in France and also in Germany with Bayern Munich.

Having previously won the Champions League twice with Milan, he guided Real Madrid to a landmark 10th success in the competition in 2014 but departed as manager a year later.

Real won the Champions League three times under Zidane but ended the 2020-21 campaign without a trophy, having finished second in La Liga behind city rivals Atletico Madrid.