Thiago Motta`s time as Juventus manager has come to an end. The club has dismissed him before the season concluded, choosing to replace the former Bologna coach. Juventus` sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli, quickly moved to appoint Igor Tudor, previously head coach of Lazio, as the interim manager until the end of the current season.
Juventus released a statement on Sunday confirming Motta`s departure. They thanked him and his staff for their dedication and professionalism during their time at the club and wished them well for the future. The statement also announced Igor Tudor as the new first-team coach, confirming his first training session would be on Monday, March 24.
Igor Tudor is familiar with Juventus, having played for the club and served as Andrea Pirlo`s assistant coach in the 2020-21 season. Before returning to Juventus, Tudor managed Hellas Verona, Olympique Marseille, and had a brief spell at Lazio after Maurizio Sarri`s resignation. Despite initially being intended to lead a new chapter at Lazio, Tudor left after just three months, and Lazio later hired Marco Baroni as their head coach for the summer of 2024.
Motta`s tenure at Juventus is considered unsuccessful, especially given the high expectations following his appointment to usher in a new era after Massimiliano Allegri`s departure. Despite Juventus still competing for a Champions League spot, they were eliminated from the Coppa Italia by Empoli and from the UEFA Champions League playoffs by PSV.
Beyond results, Motta struggled to replicate the exciting and effective football he demonstrated as Bologna manager last season, where he led the team to their first-ever Champions League qualification. Furthermore, reports suggest that several key players, including Dusan Vlahovic and Kenan Yildiz, were unhappy and expressed disappointment with Motta`s coaching.
Juventus will face Genoa in Turin next week after the international break, marking Tudor`s debut on the Juventus bench. He is expected to remain in charge at least until the end of the FIFA Club World Cup. In their recent Serie A matches against Fiorentina and Atalanta, Juventus conceded seven goals and scored none. The 4-0 home defeat against Atalanta was particularly significant, representing their worst home defeat in Serie A since 1967. These poor performances contributed to a growing divide between the fans and Motta, prompting the club`s swift decision regarding his future.
