Luciano Spalletti, the former head coach of Napoli and Italy, has been appointed as Juventus’ new head coach, taking over from the recently dismissed Igor Tudor.
Spalletti has entered into a contract with the record 36-time Serie A champions that runs until the end of the current season, as confirmed by Juventus in a statement.
Reports from Italy indicate that the contract includes an automatic renewal clause if the team secures a spot in the Champions League.
“We are thrilled to welcome a coach with such a wealth of experience to the Bianconeri family. Welcome to Juventus and best of luck, coach!” stated Juventus in their announcement.
Tudor was dismissed on Monday after a disappointing streak of three consecutive losses and an eight-match winless stretch that began on September 13. The team’s plight was temporarily alleviated on Wednesday when they secured a 3-1 victory over Udinese under interim coach Massimo Brambilla.
Spalletti, who will hold his inaugural press conference on Friday, becomes the third permanent coach for Juventus since Massimiliano Allegri was let go in May 2024. Including interim coaches, he is the club’s fifth manager during this timeframe.
Thiago Motta was dismissed by Juventus in March and replaced by Tudor, who led the club to a fourth-place finish last season and secured Italy’s final Champions League spot.
Juventus has not clinched the Serie A title since 2020, ending a remarkable streak of nine consecutive championships.
The club currently sits in seventh place, six points behind leaders Napoli and Roma.
In the Champions League, Juventus has recorded two draws and one loss, placing them in danger of elimination.
At 66, Spalletti achieved notable success in 2023 by leading Napoli to the Serie A championship. His tenure as coach of Italy was less fruitful, resulting in his dismissal last June after a disappointing start in World Cup qualifying.
Throughout his career, Spalletti has managed clubs including Empoli, Sampdoria, Venezia, Udinese, Ancona, Roma, Zenit St. Petersburg, and Inter Milan.
At Juventus, Spalletti will be joined by his son, Federico, who works as a scout for the club.
Spalletti’s first match in charge will be away against Cremonese in Serie A on Saturday, followed by a home fixture against Sporting CP in the Champions League just three days later.
This report incorporates information from The Associated Press.