Juventus have officially sacked head coach Thiago Motta after just eight months in charge, appointing Igor Tudor until the end of the season.
“Juventus FC announce that Thiago Motta has been relieved of his duties as men’s first-team coach,” the club stated.
“The team will now be led by Igor Tudor, who will take charge of his first training session tomorrow, Monday, 24 March.”
Motta’s exit after disastrous run
Motta’s dismissal follows back-to-back humiliating defeats—a 4-0 home loss to Atalanta, Juventus’ heaviest home defeat since 1967, and a 3-0 setback against Fiorentina. These results left Juventus languishing in fifth place in Serie A, jeopardizing their Champions League hopes.
While the recent results accelerated the decision, doubts about Motta’s suitability began well before March. Despite guiding Bologna to Champions League qualification last season, the 42-year-old Italian-Brazilian struggled to implement a successful system in Turin.
Tactical issues and player mismanagement
Juventus recorded 13 league draws, struggling to break down opponents.
Expensive signings like Douglas Luiz and Teun Koopmeiners underperformed.
Motta’s constant tactical tinkering—39 different formations in 42 matches—created instability.
His decision to bench key players like Dusan Vlahovic and Kenan Yildiz raised eyebrows.
Juventus’ season in tatters
Juventus’ Champions League and Coppa Italia exit further weakened Motta’s position. They were eliminated: by PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League playoff and Empoli in the Coppa Italia quarter-finals.
Additionally, under Motta, Juventus failed to live up to their iconic “Fino Alla Fine” (Until the End) motto—dropping points in 87.5% of matches after conceding first.
What’s next for Juventus?
With only nine games remaining, Juventus face a tough battle to secure Champions League qualification, with just six points separating fourth-placed Bologna and ninth-placed AC Milan.
