Juventus Fires Thiago Motta – Who Will Take Over?

Following two consecutive poor seasons and with Juventus fifth in the league standings, the Serie A team confirmed on Sunday that manager Thiago Motta had been terminated and that former player Igor Tudor had been appointed.

After leading Bologna to Champions League qualification, Motta was hired in June on a three-year contract but his presence in Turin did not ignite the anticipated rebirth at Juventus.

Following an ugly 4-0 loss at home to Atalanta, Juventus lost 3-0 against Fiorentina last weekend; Motta’s team plummeted to fifth in the rankings after being passed by Bologna and 12 points behind leaders Inter Milan.

Statements

“Juventus FC announces that it has relieved Thiago Motta of his position as coach of the men’s first team,” a club announcement stated.

“Juventus FC also announces that Igor Tudor will be leading the Men’s First Team and guiding the first training session tomorrow.”

According to a source to Reuters, Tudor’s contract runs until the conclusion of this season; should Juve qualify for the Champions League, it will be obligated to renew for another year, but the club is free to withdraw from that commitment until July 30.

Arriving in 1998, Tudor—now 46—spersed much of his playing career at Juventus. Andrea Pirlo’s assistant for one season at Juventus was Croatian.

In Italy Tudor has managed Udinese, Hellas Verona, and Lazio; his first management post came in 2013 at Hajduk Split, the club where he started and finished his playing career. Following his appointment as Lazio manager in March last year to replace Maurizio Sarri, Tudor left the club at the end of the season having brought it to a seventh-place finish and Europa League qualification.

Motta’s Juventus was knocked out of the Champions League at the playoff round by PSV Eindhoven last month and ranked 20th overall.

Less than a week later, Juventus left the Coppa Italia, losing to Empoli at home following a quarter-final penalty shootout in a performance Motta called “shameful”. Earlier in the season Juve went 21 league games without losing; but, Motta’s team drew 13 matches, therefore they were never going to play in the championship fight.

Juventus won?

Although Juventus won five straight following the initial setback to Napoli in January, the manager has paid the price for the recent severe losses that have infuriated supporters. Motta has been tough with players since he arrived at Juventus; Federico Chiesa was informed he was not part of the manager’s intentions prior to his August sale to Liverpool.

While midfielder Nicolo Fagioli joined Fiorentina on loan in February and was one of their best players in last weekend’s triumph against Juventus, former captain Danilo battled to find a way into Motta’s starting side and left the club in January.

From Motta’s 4-2-3-1 to a 3-4-2-1, which the Croatian adopted upon his arrival at Lazio, Tudor’s first game in command comes at home to Genoa on Saturday and the manager will most certainly make an instantaneous tactical adjustment.