Juventus appoint former Italy manager Spalletti as head coach

Juventus have appointed former Italy manager Luciano Spalletti as their new head coach until the end of the 2025-2026 season.

The Serie A club made the announcement on Thursday following the dismissal of previous coach Igor Tudor.

Juventus turned to the experienced Spalletti after parting ways with Tudor during an eight-match winless streak across all competitions.

The club currently sits seventh in the Serie A standings after nine league games.

“Luciano Spalletti is the new head coach of Juventus, signing an agreement with the club until June 30, 2026,” Juventus confirmed in an official statement.

“We are delighted to welcome a coach with such expertise and experience to the Bianconeri family: welcome to Juventus and good luck, coach!”

Croatian manager Igor Tudor had replaced Thiago Motta back in March, becoming Juventus’s first foreign appointment since Didier Deschamps in 2006.

Tudor successfully guided Juventus to a fourth-place Serie A finish last season, securing Champions League qualification.

However, the team’s form dramatically declined with no victories since mid-September, recording five draws followed by three consecutive losses.

Massimo Brambilla briefly took interim charge, overseeing a 3-1 victory against Udinese in the subsequent match.

Spalletti brings extensive managerial experience from clubs including AS Roma, Inter Milan, and Zenit St Petersburg.

The 66-year-old famously led Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years during the 2022-2023 season.

He was appointed Italy’s head coach in 2023, guiding the national team to Euro 2024 where they were eliminated in the round of 16 by Switzerland.

Spalletti’s tenure with Italy ended in June after an underwhelming World Cup 2026 qualification campaign. – Reuters