Carlo Ancelotti, a managerial titan in world football, has managed some of the biggest clubs globally, yet he seemingly drew the line at one specific job: the manager’s hot seat at Old Trafford. For Manchester United fans, the idea of the legendary Italian boss potentially taking over the reins has always been a compelling, albeit fleeting, dream. Now, thanks to former Red Devils manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, we have an incredible insight into why Ancelotti surprisingly turned down the opportunity to manage the storied club.
This Carlo Ancelotti revelation comes directly from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who managed United between 2018 and 2021. Solskjaer recounts an unforgettable moment during a Premier League fixture when his United side faced Ancelotti’s Everton. The anecdote powerfully illustrates the immense weight and pressure that comes with the Manchester United job—a pressure even a manager as decorated as Ancelotti felt was “too much.”
Ancelotti’s Elite Career: An Unprecedented Collection of Trophies
To fully grasp the magnitude of this rejection, one must appreciate the unparalleled career of Carlo Ancelotti. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football managers of all time, holding the singular distinction of being the only manager to win the Champions League/European Cup five times and secure league titles in all of Europe’s top five leagues (England, Spain, Italy, Germany, and France).
His resume reads like a who’s who of football royalty, including spells at AC Milan, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, and currently, a second, incredibly successful tenure at Real Madrid. In his first spell with Real Madrid, he delivered the coveted “La Décima” (the tenth Champions League trophy) in 2014, and in his current spell, he’s added another Champions League trophy, making him the most successful manager in the tournament’s history. His time at Everton, where he spent 18 months, stands as one of the shorter, yet still high-profile, chapters of his career.
Next summer, Ancelotti is set to embark on a new adventure, taking over the Brazil national team job—a move that stunned many in the club football world but highlights his continuous pursuit of new challenges, including the ultimate prize: a World Cup title.
The Shocking Confession: ‘Too Much Pressure’ at Old Trafford
The surprising moment between the two managers occurred on the touchline during a Premier League clash between Manchester United and Everton. Speaking with BBC Sport’s Kelly Somers, Solskjaer was asked about the pressure of managing one of the world’s biggest clubs.
The former Norway international described the scene: “I remember a game we played against Everton. I was standing in the technical area, I had the fourth official next to me. Carlo Ancelotti came over, so he was just on the verge of my technical area, and the fourth official said, ‘Carlo, you need to go back into your technical area if you don’t want Ole’s job.'”
Ancelotti’s response was classic, delivered with his trademark wry smile and comment. “Carlo, being Carlo, always comes up with a comment and a smile. He said: ‘No, no, no. Too much pressure. This job has got too much pressure.’ Then he walked back into his technical area, and I thought to myself, ‘Pressure is a privilege.’ He would always say that as well.”
This simple interaction speaks volumes. For a man who has successfully navigated the intense expectations of the Bernabéu, Stamford Bridge, and the San Siro, the environment surrounding Manchester United—the relentless media scrutiny, the immense global fanbase, and the constant demand for instant success—was apparently a step too far. It offers a rare peek behind the curtain, suggesting that the United job carries a unique kind of institutional burden and expectation that can be daunting even for the most seasoned elite manager.
Ancelotti’s Swift Departure from Everton and Solskjaer’s Reflection
Ancelotti’s time at Everton was brief, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal in December 2019 but only remaining for 18 months. He made a surprising return to Real Madrid in the summer of 2021, replacing Zinedine Zidane at the Bernabéu, illustrating that while he may have avoided the pressure of United, he was not shy about taking on one of the other most demanding jobs in football.
Solskjaer, who was abruptly dismissed from the Manchester United hot seat in November 2021, was quick to frame his own time in the role as an “honour.” While acknowledging the different kind of pressure compared to being a player, he ultimately viewed the experience positively. “Being the Manchester United manager was a privilege for me, but it’s not the same as playing, of course,” he stated.
“Suddenly you’re the manager, all eyes are on you. You think of all the fans, the players, everything surrounding Manchester United. But that pressure is a privilege because I was allowed to do it, and I was allowed to cope with it in my own way. We had a great squad around us, a very positive environment in and around the club. But in the end, it doesn’t matter that you enjoy coming into work every day, training… you need results, and unfortunately, we had a very bad six-week spell, and that’s too long for a club like Manchester United, and they made a change, which is normal.”
The shared sentiment between Ancelotti’s caution and Solskjaer’s experience highlights a crucial truth about managing Manchester United: it’s not just a job; it’s a global institution with pressures that surpass nearly every other club in world football. The fact that an elite, serial winner like Carlo Ancelotti openly admitted he found the pressure “too much” is perhaps the most sensational indicator of the unique challenge awaiting any manager at Old Trafford.
