Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Juventus confirm new head coach after chaotic Massimiliano Allegri sacking

sportsmole.co.uk, 12 June 2024, 22:09
Serie A giants Juventus have confirmed the appointment of 41-year-old Thiago Motta as their new head coach following the sacking of Massimiliano Allegri.

The former Italy midfielder - who represented the likes of Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid during his playing heyday - has joined the Bianconeri on a three-year deal until the end of the 2026-27 season.

Motta steps into the shoes of the highly-successful Allegri, who won a total of 12 trophies during two separate spells in Turin, including the 2023-24 Coppa Italia title with a 1-0 victory over Atalanta BC in the final.

However, Juventus' title celebrations were overshadowed by an Allegri meltdown, as the 56-year-old - who was sent off during the final - allegedly verbally threatened officials and also snubbed sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli.

Juventus - who had been expected to fire Allegri for some time anyway - confirmed the Italian's sacking just a couple of days later, citing "certain behaviours" during the final that were "deemed incompatible" with the club's values.

Motta vows to "keep the Juventus flag flying high"

Juventus ramped up discussions with Motta once Allegri had been given the boot, and Bologna confirmed before their final game of the Serie A season that the erstwhile midfielder would be leaving the club this summer.

Now, Motta has been officially appointed the new head coach of the Bianconeri after an astounding campaign at Dall'Ara, where he led Bologna into the Champions League with a fifth-placed Serie A finish.

Motta's Bologna outfit finished just two places and three points worse off than Juventus in the standings, and their ranking sufficed for UCL qualification thanks to Italy's UEFA coefficient.

"I am really happy to begin a new chapter at the helm of a great club like Juventus. I thank the owners and the management, who can be sure of my ambition to keep the Juventus flag flying high and to please the fans," Motta told the official Juventus website.

The 41-year-old had previously taken charge of Spezia and Genoa before his successful two-year spell at Bologna, whom he led to 35 victories from his 76 matches at the helm.

Which players could Motta sign for Juventus?

As well as having their head coach poached from their ranks, Bologna are also braced for an influx of bids for some of their prized assets, many of whom should be allowed to go for the right price.

One man heavily tipped to follow Motta to the Allianz Stadium is 22-year-old centre-back Riccardo Calafiori, who is reported to have agreed personal terms with the Bianconeri, but Bologna are demanding €30m (£25.4m) to let him depart.

Dutch attacker Joshua Zirkzee is unlikely to follow Calafiori to Juventus, though, as the Old Lady are not in desperate need of a new number nine, allowing Arsenal, Manchester United and AC Milan to battle for the 23-year-old.

Instead, a fresh face in goal and in midfield are set to arrive, as negotiations to sign Monza number one Michele Di Gregorio and Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz are thought to be progressing well.

Weston McKennie and Samuel Iling-Junior are set to head in the opposite direction in the Luiz deal, although Manchester United outcast Mason Greenwood could arrive as a replacement for the latter amid claims that he has also given the thumbs-up to joining Motta's side.

Top News

21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica and Estrela Amadora return to action on Saturday when they go head to head at the Estadio da Luz in the fourth round of the Taca de Portugal. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to move back into the top six of the League One table, Huddersfield Town will welcome Charlton Athletic to the John Smith's Stadium on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com talkSPORT's Ally McCoist has opened up about living with Dupuytren's contracture, an incurable hereditary condition that affects the hands. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Luton Town will welcome Hull City to Kenilworth Road on Saturday for a crucial game at the bottom end of the Championship table. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Martin Odegaard is everything for Arsenal - he's at the heartbeat of everything positive they do. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aiming to go top of the Championship table with a fifth straight victory, Sheffield United will travel to take on Coventry City on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk RB Leipzig will aim to prevent the five-point gap to Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich from extending by claiming all three points at Hoffenheim's PreZero Arena on Saturday. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Champions League hopefuls Eintracht Frankfurt will hope to maintain their five-point advantage over Werder Bremen after hosting them on Saturday at Deutsche Bank Park in their 11th Bundesliga outing of the season. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Newcastle defender Lewis Hall says his lack of game time in the first-team left him 'in a dark place' last season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams who could really do with a victory kick off round 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season as Go Ahead Eagles welcome Almere City to De Adelaarshorst on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Promotion-chasing Barnsley are favourites heading into Saturday's gameweek 17 League One match at Oakwell. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Feyenoord and Heerenveen will both be looking to pick up where they left off right before the international break in Saturday's meeting at De Kuip in matchday 13 of the 2024-25 Eredivisie season. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City officially announce that manager Pep Guardiola has signed a two-year contract extension. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Girona will be bidding to make it three straight wins in La Liga for the first time this season when they welcome Espanyol to Estadi Montilivi on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk An in-form Las Palmas will be aiming to make it five wins from their last six matches in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign at home to Mallorca on Saturday night. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Following four straight defeats leading into the international break, Aston Villa will return to action on Saturday, when Crystal Palace pay a visit to Villa Park. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly set a £100m asking price for Enzo Fernandez amid interest from Real Madrid. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Saudi Pro League action will return to the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium this weekend when Al Khaleej play host to the defending champions Al-Hilal on Saturday evening. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Atletico Madrid will be aiming to make it five straight wins in all competitions when they continue their La Liga campaign against Alaves at Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Robert Lewandowski is a mesmerising goal scorer, but it turns out that's not his only talent. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace may be without two of their key creators when they kick off on Saturday afternoon, as an ailing Premier League campaign resumes away to Aston Villa. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea defender Ben Chilwell has reportedly caught the eye of Serie A clubs Juventus and Napoli. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid are reportedly interested in Manchester United midfielder Casemiro, with Los Blancos considering making an attempt to bring the Brazilian back to Bernabeu in January. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Pep Guardiola deciding to extend his stay at Manchester City could be good news for them in more than one sense. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Cristiano Ronaldo admitted there will be one key challenge to his son, Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, becoming a professional footballer. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Caoimhin Kelleher has the opportunity to become Chelsea's starting goalkeeper - he's too good to be Liverpool's back-up. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers could be without up to seven players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Fulham at Craven Cottage. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Marco Silva will be working with almost a fully-fit squad when his Fulham side play host to Wolverhampton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday. 21 November 2024 talksport.com Al Ettifaq chiefs admitted they were left in shock when Jordan Henderson told them he wanted to leave just months into joining the Saudi Pro League club. 21 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers will be looking to climb out of the Premier League relegation zone when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Saturday afternoon.
Sat 23 Nov, 14:00
A
Verona Verona
-
sch
Inter Inter
Sat 23 Nov, 20:00
L1
Reims Reims
-
sch
Lyon Lyon