Carlo Ancelotti reportedly issued a word of caution to Andre Pirlo earlier this year - months before he was sacked as Juventus boss.
Pirlo has, this morning, been axed as Juve's manager after less than a year in charge of the Turin giants.
Juventus finished fourth in the Serie A this season, 13 points behind winners Inter Milan, and crashed out of the Champions League in the last eight, to Porto.
Pirlo was taking his first role in senior management and his former boss, Ancelotti, had warned the 41-year-old that the early throes of being a coach can often be challenging - and don't always work out.
"What would I recommend to Andrea? Nothing concrete. I am very good to him and I am sure that he will succeed," Everton boss Ancelotti is quoted as saying in January.
"Players who have been champions do not always become great coaches, but there are also those who have been successful.
"Difficulties at the initial stage are normal.
"Everyone has had it happen that it was not immediately possible to find the optimal composition."
Ancelotti, famously, converted Pirlo from a No10 into one of the world's finest defensive midfielders during their time together at AC Milan.
