Juventus have confirmed the appointment of Luciano Spalletti as their new head coach, with the veteran manager signing an initial contract running until the end of the season.
The 66-year-old replaces Igor Tudor, who was dismissed earlier this week following an eight-match winless streak that left the Turin side eighth in Serie A and 25th in the Champions League standings, outside the playoff positions.
Tudor, whose interim spell had been made permanent in the summer, struggled to stabilise the team amid poor results and mounting pressure from supporters. Juventus moved swiftly to secure Spalletti’s services, with Italian media reporting that the deal includes an extension clause should he guide the club back into the Champions League.
“We are delighted to welcome a coach with such expertise and experience to the Bianconeri family,” the club said in a statement. “Welcome to Juventus and good luck, coach!”
Spalletti has been out of work since being dismissed as Italy’s national team manager in June, following a 3-0 defeat to Norway that jeopardised the Azzurri’s World Cup qualification campaign. His tenure also included a round-of-16 exit to Switzerland at EURO 2024.
Prior to that, Spalletti enjoyed huge success with Napoli, guiding the club to their first Serie A title since 1990 during the 2022–23 season — an achievement that made him a hero in southern Italy. His deep connection to Napoli, which he celebrated by tattooing the club’s badge on his arm and declaring he would never manage another Italian side, has made his arrival in Turin a controversial one among fans.
Nonetheless, Juventus view Spalletti’s wealth of experience — including previous stints at Roma and Inter Milan — as vital in restoring stability after a turbulent period under less experienced coaches such as Tudor and Thiago Motta.
Spalletti’s first match in charge will come on Saturday night, when Juventus travel to face Cremonese, as the “Old Lady” begin yet another attempt to revive their season under a new manager.