Italian football powerhouse Juventus officially announced Thiago Motta as their newly appointed head coach on Wednesday, marking a significant change following the dismissal of Massimiliano Allegri last month.
In a press release, the club confirmed the appointment of Thiago Motta, stating, “It is now confirmed that Thiago Motta will be the next coach of Juventus. The Italian-Brazilian coach has inked a contract with Juventus that runs until June 30, 2027.”
Motta, aged 41, previously held coaching responsibilities at Serie A competitor Bologna before taking on this new role with Juventus.
Expressing his excitement about the opportunity, Motta shared, “I am truly delighted to embark on this new journey at the helm of a prestigious club like Juventus.” Reports from the Italian media suggest that Motta is set to receive an annual salary of 3.5 million euros ($3.8 million) in his new position.
During his tenure at Bologna, which began in 2022, Motta established himself as a reputable coach. In the previous season, he guided the team to a commendable fifth-place finish in Serie A, securing their qualification for the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
As a former Italian national team player, Motta was part of the squad that narrowly missed out on the European Championship title in 2012. His illustrious playing career also includes five French league titles with Paris Saint-Germain, as well as success in the UEFA Champions League with Barcelona and Inter Milan.
Having coached at Genoa in 2019, where he faced a brief tenure lasting just three months with limited success, Motta went on to manage La Spezia (2021-22) and Bologna, before assuming his latest role at Juventus.
While Juventus finished the previous season in third place in Serie A, trailing champions Inter Milan by 23 points, they did manage to secure victory in the Italian Cup, claiming the prestigious title for the 15th time in the club’s history.
Despite Juventus’ struggles towards the end of the season, characterized by only three wins in 17 league matches, the club decided to part ways with Allegri due to his confrontational behavior during the Italian Cup final, which was deemed inconsistent with the club’s principles.
Allegri’s tenure at Juventus was marked by success, including 12 trophies, five Serie A championships, and two appearances in the Champions League final, showcasing his impressive managerial track record over two separate stints with the club.
