Juventus Turin have parted company with coach Massimiliano Allegri with immediate effect – two days after winning the cup final. The 56-year-old’s personal outbursts were the decisive factor
On Friday, Juventus officially announced that Massimiliano Allegri had been relieved of his duties as coach. The Italian record champions cited “certain behaviors during and after the Italian Cup final” as the reason for the dismissal. These were “incompatible with the values of Juventus”.
What had happened? Allegri had lost his nerve during the cup final in Rome. Before the final whistle, he was sent off for insulting the referee, then tore off his jacket and tie and shouted at the fourth official and the crowd. This earned him a two-match ban and a fine of 5,000 euros.
But that was by no means the end of the story, as there was then an incident with Guido Vaciago, the editor-in-chief of Tuttosport. Allegri allegedly threatened, insulted and pushed him, as he explained on Thursday. The coach is also said to have had an argument with sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli. It then became known on Friday that the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) had launched an investigation.
Juve have already reacted and have now decided to sack the coach. The club did not disclose details of the dismissal, but the Gazzetta dello Sport reported that a legal review had been carried out to determine whether he could be dismissed without notice. Should this be the case, Juve would save seven million euros net plus two million in bonuses, as Allegri’s contract runs until 2025
Successful first term, but a meagre second term
The fact is: a very successful collaboration in phases has come to an inglorious end. In 2014, Allegri took over the difficult legacy of Antonio Conte, who was very popular with the fans and had left the club after three championships in a row, and got off to a good start. In his first season, he won the double with Juve and also reached the Champions League final (1:3 against Barcelona). He also won the double with the Turin club in each of the following two years and reached the Champions League final again in 2017 (1:4 against Real Madrid).
After the fifth Scudetto in a row, Allegri parted ways in 2018/19 because he wanted to take a sabbatical. He finally returned to the Juve bench in 2021/22 as the successor to the rather hapless Andrea Pirlo, but was unable to recapture his former glory days. His overly defensive approach to the game was repeatedly criticized – and the successes failed to materialize. Last Wednesday’s cup win is his only title during his second spell in charge.
Allegri’s premature departure has been discussed in Italy for weeks. Now it has come to that. The Turin club have not presented a successor, but rumors are swirling around Thiago Motta. The Italian international with Brazilian roots impressed as a coaching talent at FC Bologna, which he sensationally led into the Champions League. Bologna are currently ahead of Juve in the table ahead of Monday’s direct clash, although they also already have their Champions League ticket in the bag
