Maurizio Sarri, who has been linked with the manager’s job at Everton, wants to return to management before January.
Former Chelsea boss Sarri, 65, has been out of work since quitting as Lazio boss in March. He had been in charge of the Italian club for nearly three years, He took Lazio into the last 16 of the Champions League in his final season.
The veteran manager is said to be a target for the Friedkin Group, whose takeover of Everton was agreed on Monday. The prospective owners, who are currently awaiting regulatory approval, are the current owners of Lazio’s great rivals Roma.
Everton currently sit bottom of the Premier League after picking up just one point from their first five matches. Sean Dyche currently remains in charge, but could yet be replaced before his contract runs out in the summer.
“I hope before January,” Sarri told La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Sport Witness) in early September when asked when he wants to be back in the dugout “It will depend on the situations, the offers I receive, the motivations. From the phone call that will give me more adrenaline.
“I don’t see myself at the last dance! I still want to coach, and I think I’m in a position to give something.
“It’s true that young people are in fashion at the moment, but last year the three European cups were won by coaches my age: [Carlo] Ancelotti in the Champions League, [Gian Piero] Gasperini in the Europa League and [Jose Luis] Mendilibar in the Conference [League]. Ditto [Luis] De la Fuente, coach of the Spain team that won the European championship.”
The links between Sarri and Everton come from Corriere dello Sport. The Italian publication points to their hope that the manager – who finished third in the Premier League in 2018-19 – can help Everton “avoid the darkest scenario” of relegation, as translated by Sport Witness.
Current manager Dyche first tookover at Goodison Park in January 2023 with the team sitting 19th in the Premier League. He led Everton to survival in his first season, and secured a 15th-place finish last term despite his team being deducted eight points following breaches of profit and sustainability rules.
