TURIN, Italy: Thiago Motta was fired as Juventus coach last night after less than a season in charge, with former player Igor Tudor replacing him, the Italian giants announced.
“Juventus FC announces the dismissal of Thiago Motta from his duties as coach of the men’s first team,” a Juventus statement said.
“The club would like to thank Thiago Motta and all the staff for the level of professionalism and the work they have carried out in recent months with great passion and dedication.
“Juventus also announced that the team will now be led by Igor Tudor, who will conduct his first training session tomorrow, Monday, March 24.”
The decision to sack Motta follows a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Atalanta – their biggest home defeat since 1967 – and a 3-0 defeat at Fiorentina in the club’s last two matches, leaving Juve fifth in the Italian top flight.
Following the defeat, the club’s directors used the international break to discuss with Motta, leading to the decision that he was no longer suitable for the role.
But doubts at the club had arisen since before March.
After guiding Bologna to the Champions League last season, Motta, 42, arrived to a roaring welcome in Turin in July last year. But his honeymoon was short-lived.
His team has rarely impressed and has drawn 13 times in the league, while expensive summer signings including Douglas Luiz and Teun Koopmeiners have failed to live up to expectations.
The situation was made worse by Motta’s erratic decisions regarding his starting line-up – he used 39 different formations in his 42 matches in charge.
Last month, Juventus were knocked out of the Champions League by PSV Eindhoven in the last-16 play-offs and lost to Empoli in the quarter-finals of the Italian Cup, of which they are the defending champions.