Juventus sack manager Thiago Motta with Italians 12 points behind Serie A leaders Inter – and furious official ‘told under-fire coach he was ASHAMED to have hired him’

Juventus have officially sacked head coach Thiago Motta less than a season into his tenure and moved quickly to line up his replacement.

Motta, 42, was officially informed of his dismissal by the club’s hierarchy on Sunday after a nightmare run of results and has been replaced by Igor Tudor.

Tudor, whose last managerial role came at Serie A rivals Lazio, will take charge for the rest of the season with Champions League qualification crucial in determining whether his deal is extended. He will oversee his first training session on Monday.

Juventus crashed out of the Champions League and both the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana this season, and recently suffered a 4-0 humbling at the hands of title contenders Atalanta, their heaviest home defeat since 1967.

Motta’s last match at the helm proved to be the 3-0 loss at eighth-placed Fiorentina, a result that left the Old Lady in fifth, one point adrift of fourth. 

In the aftermath, Motta was reportedly told by director Cristiano Giuntoli that he was ‘ashamed’ at having chosen him for the job in an awkward confrontation over lunch on Tuesday. This, La Gazzetta dello Sport claim, was a factor behind his sacking.

Indeed, it is thought that Giuntoli and CEO Maurizio Scanavino were unimpressed with Motta’s answers during the face-to-face meeting, leading to a change of heart after the coach was initially backed despite the losses to Atalanta and Fiorentina.

A short club statement confirming the decision read: ‘Juventus FC announce that Thiago Motta has been relieved of his duties as Men’s First Team coach.

‘The club would like to thank Thiago Motta and all of his staff for their professionalism and for the work they have carried out in recent months with passion and dedication. The club wish them the best of luck for the future.

‘Juventus FC also announce that the Men’s First Team will now be led by Igor Tudor, who will take charge of his first training session tomorrow, Monday, 24 March.’

Tudor spent much of his playing career in Turin, winning Serie A in 2002 and 2003, and acted as an assistant coach at the club under Andrea Pirlo. His first game will come against Genoa on March 29 after the conclusion of the international break.

Motta, who penned a contract running until 2027 last summer, lost just three league games at Juventus but saw his side draw as many matches as they won – 13. He leaves with the heavyweights 12 points behind league leaders Inter Milan.

In the Champions League, they finished 20th of 36 teams in the league phase, having won just three of their eight games, and were then sent packing in the play-off round after a chastening 4-3 aggregate defeat to PSV Eindhoven.

Motta previously impressed as head coach at Bologna, steering them to a ninth-placed finish in 2022-23 before sealing Champions League qualification the following campaign, the first time the club had achieved the feat in six decades.

More to follow.