Thiago Motta Takes the Helm at Juventus: A New Era Begins

Thiago Motta has been appointed head coach of Juventus on a three-year contract, replacing Massimiliano Allegri, who was dismissed in May despite winning the Coppa Italia. The 41-year-old Motta joins from Bologna, where he secured Champions League football for the first time since the 1964-65 season.

Motta expressed his excitement on the club’s website: “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.”

A former midfielder who represented Brazil and Italy, Motta began coaching Bologna in September 2022, leading them to a ninth-place finish in his first season and a top-five finish this season, securing a return to Europe’s elite competition. Bologna confirmed last month that Motta chose not to continue as coach, praising him for giving the team a “brilliant playing identity.”

Motta’s playing career included stints at Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, Genoa, Inter Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain, winning a total of 28 trophies, including the Champions League with both Barcelona and Inter.

Allegri was sacked by Juventus two days after winning the Coppa Italia, with the team in fourth place in Serie A, just behind Bologna. His initial tenure saw five consecutive Serie A titles and two Champions League final appearances, but his second stint was less successful, with only the Coppa Italia triumph since his return in 2021.

Juventus cited Allegri’s behavior during and after the Coppa Italia final as incompatible with the club’s values. Following the victory, Allegri distanced himself from club directors and refrained from celebrating with the players. The Italian Football Federation’s disciplinary tribunal has launched an investigation into his conduct.