Juventus have decided to part ways with head coach Igor Tudor, ending their seven-month journey together in which he guided the club to a top-four Serie A finish and Champions League qualification. But after an eight-game winless run and mounting pressure, the club have acted decisively by appointing Juventus Next Gen coach Massimo Brambilla as a stopgap while directors probe short-term fixes and long-term replacements to steady a wounded team.
Juventus sack head coach Igor Tudor
Juventus confirmed the sacking of head coach Tudor on Monday after an alarming eight-game winless run that leaves the club languishing outside the Champions League places. The decision was driven by the team’s ongoing struggles in front of goal and the sense that Tudor’s ideas had failed to take hold. The 46-year-old, who joined Juventus in March, departs just months after signing a contract extension until 2027.
Juventus went to the Stadio Olimpico aiming for a response but instead suffered a 1-0 loss to Lazio that underlined a wider crisis. The Bianconeri have now failed to score in four consecutive games and are eight matches without a win. The attack has dried up and despite deploying two strikers at times, the final third has been blunt, chances have been wasted and defensive lapses punished. Como’s earlier surprise win and the subsequent run of draws and defeats revealed structural problems rather than one-off bad luck.
After the final whistle on Sunday, tensions spilled over in Turin and inside the club the decision was taken: Tudor would be relieved. Before the announcement, the Croatian faced the media and addressed his players’ responsibility and morale, offering a mixture of realism and defiance. He insisted the squad must stay united and work harder to fix their mistakes which could be a message aimed at keeping dressing-room cohesion even as the board prepared a managerial change.
"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," a statement read.
"The Club 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."
AdvertisementAFPTudor’s brief but eventful reign in Italy
Tudor’s tenure began with promise. Appointed in March 2025 to replace Thiago Motta, he was tasked with stabilising Juventus and leading them back into the top four, a goal he achieved, securing Champions League qualification and earning a two-year extension until 2027. His early record spoke volumes with five wins, three draws, one defeat in nine Serie A matches.
Under Tudor, Juventus displayed renewed tactical discipline and defensive stability. He reintroduced aggression and compact pressing, while young stars like Kenan Yildiz flourished under his guidance. “We feel terrible, but we need to stick together and pull through,” Tudor had said after the 1-0 defeat to Lazio. “Everyone is responsible — we’ll play again in two days, and with a win we can get going again.”
But the momentum evaporated quickly. Juve have now gone four matches without a goal and eight without a win, a sequence that saw them crash out of domestic rhythm and stall in Europe. Their last victory came in mid-September with a thrilling 4-3 win over Inter, but since then, their attack has dried up. Even Tudor admitted after the Lazio defeat:
“Today we tried with two strikers, we were there and had chances, but we’re definitely missing something. When you get to the final 20 meters, someone has to score, otherwise you get punished.”
The loss to Lazio was the tipping point. Fans grew restless, and internal discussions intensified as the gap widened between Tudor’s tactical stubbornness and the club’s evolving vision under incoming CEO Damien Comolli.
Who could be Juventus’ next manager?
With Brambilla appointed only as a temporary solution, Juventus have already begun evaluating long-term candidates. According to multiple reports, Roberto Mancini, Luciano Spalletti and Raffaele Palladino top the list.
Mancini, recently departed from Saudi Arabia, brings experience and composure, with a track record that includes a Premier League title, three Serie A crowns and the Euro 2020 triumph with Italy. His structured yet flexible style appeals to Juventus’ management, who seek stability and tactical maturity.
Spalletti, the architect of Napoli’s 2023 Scudetto, represents another high-profile choice. Known for fluid football and nurturing young talent, his methods align closely with Comolli’s long-term vision for Juventus with a dynamic, high-tempo side built around emerging stars like Yildiz and Jonathan David.
Palladino, though less experienced, has admirers within the club for his progressive ideas and his success with Monza and Fiorentina. From abroad, names such as Edin Terzic and Marco Rose have also surfaced, both renowned for their modern tactical identities and youth development credentials.
Getty Images SportBrambilla steps in to begin Juve's new chapter
In the wake of Tudor’s dismissal, Brambilla steps up from Juventus Next Gen with the task of steadying a side short on confidence and cohesion. This is not unfamiliar territory for the 51-year-old coach, who has earned respect within the club for his tactical clarity, calm temperament, and commitment to developing young talent.
Brambilla first managed Juventus Next Gen between 2022 and mid-2024, leading them to the Coppa Italia Serie C final and the Serie C play-offs, where they achieved their best-ever league finish clinching the seventh spot. After briefly departing, he returned to the setup in November 2024, taking charge of a struggling side that had won just once in 14 matches. Within months, Brambilla revitalised the squad, steering them clear of relegation danger and back into the play-off zone. His success in nurturing players like Dean Huijsen and Yildiz showcased his ability to blend youth with a structured, attacking philosophy.
That same progressive mindset now gives Juventus hope. Brambilla favours constructive, possession-based football, encouraging vertical play and intelligent pressing – an approach that contrasts Tudor’s rigid structure. As Juventus prepares for a demanding run, starting with Udinese, then Cremonese away, and Sporting CP in the Champions League, Brambilla’s interim spell doubles as an audition. If he can inspire a response from this underperforming squad, the hierarchy may be tempted to extend his stewardship.
