Juventus sack Thiago Motta, appoint Igor Tudor as interim coach
Juventus dismissed head coach Thiago Motta on Sunday after less than a season in charge, with former player Igor Tudor named as his replacement, the club announced.
“Juventus FC announce that Thiago Motta has been relieved of his duties as men’s first team coach,” read a club statement. “The team will now be led by Igor Tudor, who will take charge of his first training session tomorrow, Monday, 24 March.”
Motta’s departure follows heavy defeats to Atalanta (4-0) and Fiorentina (3-0), leaving Juventus fifth in Serie A and in danger of missing out on Champions League qualification. Though discussions with the club intensified over the international break, concerns over Motta’s leadership had been building for months.
The 42-year-old arrived in Turin last July after guiding Bologna to the Champions League, but Juventus struggled under his management. His side registered 13 league draws, while high-profile signings like Douglas Luiz and Teun Koopmeiners failed to make an impact. Frequent squad rotations—39 different formations in 42 matches—also led to instability.
Juventus were eliminated from both the Champions League play-offs by PSV Eindhoven and the Coppa Italia quarter-finals by Empoli, deepening fan frustration. The club’s struggles to come from behind in matches further fueled criticism.
Tudor, a former Juventus defender with coaching experience at Verona, Marseille, and Lazio, has been appointed on a short-term deal. Reports suggest Juventus could pursue Antonio Conte, Stefano Pioli, or Roberto Mancini in the summer.
(Source: AFP)
