Thiago Motta has been sacked as Juventus manager after just over eight months in charge. The position of the former Italian international had become untenable in recent weeks due to disappointing results. Igor Tudor will replace him at the club, where Teun Koopmeiners plays.
Thiago Motta was brought in by Juventus last summer with high hopes and great expectations.
The Italian giants had just endured a turbulent period both on and off the pitch, and the club's leadership saw Motta as the ideal figure to usher in a new era. After a highly impressive stint with Bologna where he not only stabilized the team but also guided them to their first-ever Champions League qualification Motta’s stock had risen considerably. Juventus, eager to modernize their playing style and reestablish domestic dominance, offered him a long-term deal through 2027, backing him to be the man to bring silverware back to Turin.
However, the reality of managing one of Europe’s most demanding clubs quickly set in. Juventus struggled to impose themselves in Serie A. While the team avoided frequent losses, they were plagued by an inability to close out matches, often settling for draws in games where they had taken early leads or had numerical advantages. The style of play also came under scrutiny. Fans and pundits alike questioned Motta’s tactical choices, with many pointing to a lack of identity and coherence in the team’s overall performances.
The turning point came during the winter stretch, when Juve’s already shaky form took a sharp downturn. Back-to-back humiliating defeats against Atalanta (0-4) and Fiorentina (3-0) raised serious concerns. A shock exit in the Coppa Italia at the hands of Empoli added further pressure. But the final blow came on the European stage: Juventus were eliminated from the Champions League by PSV Eindhoven, with the Dutch side putting in confident performances across both legs in February and March. The elimination was especially painful for the club hierarchy, who had prioritized European progress as a key objective for the season.
Despite the mounting pressure, there were initial signs that Juventus intended to back Motta until the end of the campaign. Club officials spoke of patience, continuity, and the need to rebuild gradually. However, behind the scenes, the tone shifted dramatically during the international break. Reports emerged suggesting that the board had lost faith in Motta’s leadership, and by the end of the break, his departure had become all but inevitable.
On Sunday, Juventus officially confirmed Motta’s dismissal. Though the club’s public statement was diplomatic, highlighting his efforts and professionalism, the message was clear: the project had failed to deliver on its promises. Motta, a former midfielder who represented clubs like Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain, departs after just over eight months in charge. Given the length of his contract, he is expected to receive a significant severance payout, though the club will be eager to move forward quickly.
In his place, Juventus have turned to a familiar figure: Igor Tudor. The Croatian is no stranger to the Bianconeri faithful. As a player, Tudor spent nearly a decade at Juventus, helping the club to two Serie A titles in the early 2000s. A tough, intelligent midfielder with a strong sense of leadership, he was a fan favorite during his playing days. In 2020, he returned to the club as assistant coach under Andrea Pirlo, gaining valuable experience on the bench during a transitional season.
Since then, Tudor has carved out a reputation as a capable head coach. He impressed at Hellas Verona, where his team played an aggressive, high-pressing style of football that won admirers across Italy. At Olympique Marseille, he led the French club to a strong Ligue 1 campaign, finishing third and securing Champions League football. Most recently, he had a short but impactful spell with Lazio, further building on his tactical credentials.
Now 46, Tudor returns to Juventus with the task of steadying the ship and salvaging what remains of the season. The club has announced that he will remain in charge until the end of the current campaign, with an option to extend his deal by another year depending on results and long-term fit. His first training session is scheduled for Monday, March 24, giving him little time to implement changes before the run-in.
Tudor inherits a squad low on confidence and consistency, but with enough quality to compete. Much will depend on how quickly he can reenergize key players, tighten up a leaky defense, and give the team a clear tactical identity something that was sorely lacking under Motta. The fans, meanwhile, will be hoping that this latest managerial change finally marks a return to stability and ambition worthy of the Juventus name.
