Everton have officially announced Carlo Ancelotti as their new manager, signing a four-and-a-half year deal.

The news was broken less than two hours before Everton's Premier League tie with Arsenal and Ancelotti will watch the game unfold from the stands.

The Italian takes over from Duncan Ferguson, who went unbeaten in his first two games as interim boss. His appointment is a huge statement from Everton.

Ancelotti joins the club as one of the most decorated managers in the world.

After a stellar playing career, he started off his career in management with Reggiana in 1995.

Prestigious career

He then managed Parma and Juventus, before announcing himself as one of the best managers in the world at AC Milan.

In an eight-year spell at Milan Ancelotti won eight trophies, including one Serie A and two Champions League's.

He moved to Chelsea in 2009, where he won the double in his first season, which included winning the Premier League by a single point from Manchester United.

Recent Napoli sacking

A spell in France with Paris Saint-Germain followed, where he won Ligue 1 in 2013, before leading Real Madrid to the quadruple in 2014.

He moved to Bayern in 2016 and won the Bundesliga: making Germany the fifth country where he's won the domestic league title.

His most recent spell came at Napoli, where he endured perhaps his worst spell as a manager yet.

The 60-year-old was unable to win a trophy in his 19-month spell and was sacked last week with the club languishing in seventh, 17 points behind leaders Inter Milan.

Ancelotti will now experience arguably his toughest test as a manager.

He joins an Everton side seriously underachieving this season.

Can he turn things around?

The Merseyside club possess a lot of quality players but are currently in 16th, just three points above the relegation zone.

The Everton board will just be hoping that Ancelotti steers the club away from the relegation zone and back into the top half during his first season in charge.

Ancelotti will then be expected to guide Everton back into the top four next campaign.

His pedigree as a manager, as well as his experience in English football, means he may well be the man to do just that.