TURIN, Italy — New Juventus coach Luciano Spalletti expressed confidence in his ability to rejuvenate the club and make a push for the Serie A title, despite the limited time he has been allotted.
Spalletti succeeded Igor Tudor on Thursday, signing an eight-month contract following his tenure as head coach at Napoli and with the Italy national team.
Tudor was dismissed on Monday after a streak of three consecutive losses that extended an overall winless run to eight matches since September 13. His replacement, interim coach Massimo Brambilla, led the team to a 3-1 victory over Udinese on Wednesday.
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Spalletti’s introductory match as head coach will be against Cremonese in Serie A on Saturday. Following that, Juventus will host Sporting CP in the Champions League three days later.
“If I didn’t believe in the potential and possibilities of this team, even after tough times, I wouldn’t have taken an eight-month contract,” Spalletti stated during his first news conference as Juventus manager. “I’m confident I can make a positive impact. Success will depend on commitment, desire, and discipline to achieve important outcomes, and I see the opportunity to correct certain issues.”
Juventus has not claimed the Serie A title since 2020, ending a remarkable nine-year championship streak. Currently, the team is in seventh place, trailing leaders Napoli and Roma by six points.
In this season’s Champions League, Juventus finds themselves in trouble with two draws and one loss, currently positioned in the elimination zone.
“I aim to re-enter the Serie A title chase,” Spalletti remarked. “Why not? That’s what I discussed with the players yesterday. We need to set our sights high, and in this case, that means aiming for the top spot.
“With nine games played out of 38, we still have 29 matches ahead, which is a considerable number. After 30 years in this field, I’ve witnessed plenty, and I don’t see any reason to settle merely due to age,” he added, laughing.
At 66, Spalletti is widely known for guiding Napoli to the Serie A championship in 2023. He later had a brief and unsuccessful stint with the Italian national team before being released in June after a poor start in World Cup qualifying.
His managerial career also includes roles with Empoli, Sampdoria, Venezia, Udinese, Ancona, Roma, Zenit St. Petersburg, and Inter Milan.
Spalletti becomes Juventus’ third full-time manager since Massimiliano Allegri’s departure in May 2024, marking him as the fifth head coach overall during this period, including interim appointments.
Thiago Motta was sacked by Juventus in March and was succeeded by Tudor, who managed to secure a Champions League position with a fourth-place finish last season.
Italian media reported on Thursday that Spalletti’s contract would automatically extend for an additional two years if Juventus qualifies for the Champions League. However, general manager Damien Jacques Comolli clarified that the renewal isn’t guaranteed, but the club holds the option for a one-year extension if desired.
“We have a moral agreement, and what we discussed with Luciano is that this could potentially lead to a long-term partnership—a goal both sides wish to pursue. It was the right approach, and we can reassess as the season progresses,” Comolli explained.