Juventus have parted ways with head coach Igor Tudor following a poor run of form that has left the Italian giants struggling in both domestic and European competitions.
The Serie A club announced Tudor’s dismissal on Monday, just hours after a 1-0 defeat to Lazio extended their underwhelming sequence to just five points from their last five matches.
“Juventus FC announces that it has today relieved Igor Tudor of his duties as head coach of the men’s first team, along with his staff consisting of Ivan Javorcic, Tomislav Rogic and Riccardo Ragnacci,” the Turin club said in a statement.
The club added: “Juventus thanks Igor Tudor and his entire staff for their professionalism and dedication over the past few months and wishes them all the best for their future careers.”
Massimiliano Brambilla, the men’s first team coach, will take temporary charge for Wednesday’s match against Udinese whilst the club searches for a permanent replacement.
Tudor’s departure comes at a critical juncture for Juventus, who currently sit eighth in Serie A, six points adrift of league leaders Napoli. The Old Lady’s troubles extend beyond domestic shores, with their Champions League campaign also faltering badly.
The club languishes in 25th position out of 36 teams in the revamped Champions League standings after managing just one draw and suffering two defeats in their opening three matches of the competition.
The poor results have raised serious questions about Juventus’ ability to compete for major honours this season, with the club’s hierarchy clearly deciding that a change in the dugout was necessary to arrest the alarming slide.
Tudor’s tenure, which lasted just a few months, has failed to produce the results expected of one of Italy’s most successful clubs. The Croatian coach, who previously had spells at Hajduk Split, PAOK, Udinese, Hellas Verona, Marseille and Lazio, was unable to impose his methods on the Juventus squad.
The appointment of Brambilla represents a short-term solution as the club’s board begins the search for a manager capable of restoring Juventus to their former glory. The interim boss will be expected to stabilise the team’s performances whilst providing a platform for the next permanent appointment to build upon.
With the season still in its early stages, Juventus will be hoping that swift action in the dugout can prevent their campaign from unravelling further.
