Spalletti Takes Charge as Juventus Head Coach
Former Napoli and Italy manager Luciano Spalletti has been appointed as the new head coach of Juventus, replacing Igor Tudor, who was dismissed earlier this week. The announcement was made on Thursday.
Spalletti has signed a contract that will keep him with the Serie A giants until the end of the current season, and reports indicate that this deal includes an automatic extension should the team qualify for the Champions League.
Juventus expressed their excitement in a statement: “We are thrilled to have a coach with such experience join the Bianconeri family. Welcome to Juventus, and best of luck!”
Tudor’s exit came after a string of three consecutive defeats and an eight-match winless streak that began on September 13. The team managed to break this run with a 3-1 victory over Udinese under interim coach Massimo Brambilla.
Spalletti will hold his first press conference on Friday and is the third permanent coach at Juventus since Massimiliano Allegri’s departure in May 2024, marking him as the club’s fifth coach during this span when including caretakers.
Prior to Tudor, Thiago Motta was let go in March. Tudor helped guide the club to a fourth-place finish in the previous season, securing Italy’s last Champions League qualifying spot.
Juventus has not secured a Serie A title since 2020, ending a streak of nine consecutive championships. Currently, the team stands in seventh place, trailing league leaders Napoli and Roma by six points.
In the Champions League, Juventus is struggling, having drawn two matches and lost one, placing them in danger of elimination.
The 66-year-old Spalletti is recognized for leading Napoli to the Serie A title in 2023. His recent tenure with the Italian national team ended in June after a disappointing start in World Cup qualifying.
Alongside his experience with Napoli, Spalletti’s coaching career includes stints at Empoli, Sampdoria, Venezia, Udinese, Ancona, Roma, Zenit St. Petersburg, and Inter Milan.
At Juventus, Spalletti will work alongside his son, Federico, who serves as a scout for the club.
His first match in charge will be against Cremonese in Serie A on Saturday, followed by a clash with Sporting CP in the Champions League three days later.
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