Juventus Sack Thiago Motta After Just Nine Months, Appoint Igor Tudor as New Manager

Juventus have parted ways with Thiago Motta less than a season into his tenure, bringing in Igor Tudor as his replacement. The decision comes after a string of poor results, including back-to-back heavy defeats against Fiorentina and Atalanta, which left the club in fifth place in Serie A.

The final straw was a humiliating 4-0 defeat to Atalanta, Juventus’ worst home loss since 1967. This followed a 3-0 loss at Fiorentina, pushing them 12 points behind league leaders Inter Milan. With Bologna overtaking them in the standings, Juventus decided they could no longer afford to continue with Motta. "Juventus FC announces that it has relieved Thiago Motta of his position as coach of the men's first team," the club said in a statement. "Juventus also announces that it has entrusted the leadership of the Men's First Team to Igor Tudor, who will direct the first training session tomorrow." 

Tudor, 46, is no stranger to the club, having played for Juventus from 1998 to 2007. He also served as Andrea Pirlo’s assistant during the 2020-21 season. As a manager, Tudor has had stints in Italy with Udinese, Hellas Verona, and Lazio, as well as a spell in France with Marseille. Juventus used the international break to hold discussions with Motta and ultimately concluded that he was no longer the right man for the job. 

Motta arrived in July 2024 with big expectations after guiding Bologna to a historic Champions League qualification. But his time in Turin was anything but smooth. Key summer signings like Douglas Luiz and Teun Koopmeiners failed to make an impact, and Motta’s constant tinkering with the lineup – using 36 different formations in 42 matches – only added to the inconsistency. Juventus were also eliminated early from Europe, finishing 20th in the Champions League standings before crashing out against PSV Eindhoven in the playoffs. Less than a week later, they suffered another disappointment in the Coppa Italia, losing to Empoli on penalties in the quarterfinals. 

Despite going 21 Serie A matches unbeaten, the team’s 13 draws meant they never truly entered the title race. Fans grew frustrated, feeling that Juventus had lost their identity under Motta. The club’s famous "Fino alla fine" (Until the end) mentality seemed to have faded, as Juventus failed to win 87.5% of matches in which they fell behind. With only nine league games remaining, Juventus are now locked in a tight battle for a top-four finish, with just six points separating fourth-placed Bologna from ninth-placed AC Milan. 

Tudor now faces the immediate challenge of ensuring Juventus finish in the Champions League spots, which is crucial for the club’s financial stability. With his strong connection to the club and past experience managing in Serie A, Juventus will be hoping that Tudor can steady the ship and guide them back into Europe’s elite competition.