In a dramatic turn of events, Juventus has made yet another abrupt change at the helm, swapping out Thiago Motta for Igor Tudor as their new manager. This marks the fourth managerial shift in just ten months. It all began on May 17, 2024, with the dismissal of Massimiliano Allegri, followed briefly by Paolo Montero’s tenure, and now the latest move from Motta to Tudor.
The official announcement for Tudor’s appointment was made at exactly 5 PM, with the club stating, “Juventus announces they have relieved Thiago Motta of his duties as head coach of the men’s first team, thanking him for his professionalism and the dedication shown during these months, wishing him the very best for the future.” Motta, the former Bologna manager, and his coaching staff have been given the boot.
Igor Tudor, a familiar face at the Continassa in Turin after serving as Andrea Pirlo’s assistant a few years back, will take charge from tomorrow. The Turin side has now opted for a managerial change for the second consecutive season, with only 310 days separating the departure of Allegri from Motta’s exit. Technical director Cristiano Giuntoli aims to salvage the current campaign with a bid for Champions League qualification, turning to Tudor, a true Juventus man.
However, Tudor’s stay may only extend until June, as the club reassesses their future direction. Currently, Juventus’ sole focus is on clinching that vital fourth place, probably the last spot for the prestigious European competition. Tudor, born in 1978, faces the task of achieving this after inheriting a squad positioned fifth in the standings, reeling from conceding seven goals in two matches against Atalanta and Fiorentina, with the supporters justifiably upset.
The pressure surrounding Thiago Motta had grown unbearably intense, prompting this hasty decision. What might have been an opportunity for him to redeem himself in the clash with Genoa has turned into Tudor’s job of leading Juventus into the first of their last nine league matches.
Sadly for the Italian-Brazilian, his dreams of managing a top club came crashing down in just 284 days, accumulating a disheartening 18 wins from 42 matches across all competitions, averaging a mere 1.67 points per game with a staggering sixteen draws and eight losses to round off his record.
Apart from the disappointing results, Motta’s handling of the dressing room has also come under scrutiny, especially after his fallout with team stalwart Danilo and the sidelining of Fagioli, who shone in the Fiorentina clash—merely a couple of standout instances. With hefty investments failing to yield the desired results, including players like Koopmeiners and Nico Gonzalez not thriving under his management, it now remains to be seen if Tudor can coax the best out of them or if they were just misfires leading to further troubles for Giuntoli. It appears that many at Juventus could now be under the microscope, given that it’s been the project involving Thiago that has ultimately failed, leaving him bearing the brunt of the fallout.
Resource: ANSA
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