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Juventus: Ranking Andrea Pirlo’s potential replacements

By James Cormack

Juventus, Andrea Pirlo, Max Allegri (Photo credit should read GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images)
Juventus, Andrea Pirlo, Max Allegri (Photo credit should read GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Refereeing incompetence combined with a vintage Diego Godin display has handed Andrea Pirlo and Juventus a lifeline in the context of the Serie A top-four race.

Gianpaolo Calvarese’s horror show in Saturday’s Derby d’Italia was a major talking point as the Bianconeri secured an imperative 3-2 victory against the champions. The result temporarily lifted Juve up to fourth before the execrable reality of Europa League football swiftly returned after Napoli secured a 2-0 victory over Fiorentina.

Milan’s stalemate against Cagliari, however, has left the door ajar for Pirlo’s side. The Rossoneri will likely have to beat Atalanta in Bergamo next Sunday to claim a spot in Europe’s premier competition next season, providing both Napoli and Juve triumph against Hellas Verona and Bologna respectively.

However, even if the Bianconeri pull off a minor miracle and escape the frightening prospect of Thursday night football, Pirlo’s future is far from guaranteed. In fact, there’s a growing feeling that the novice coach will depart no matter what transpires next Sunday.

Thus, that poses the question: who will Juventus target as his successor?

The Italian media have tried to link the Turin-giants with every coach who’s ever existed and it’s been tough for us to whittle it down to five options.

Here they are.

5. Luciano Spalletti

Luciano Spalletti has been out of management for two years. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Luciano Spalletti has been out of management for two years. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) /

The true pioneer of the false nine’s revival in the modern-day. Luciano Spalletti and Francesco Totti walked so Pep and Lionel could run!

Spalletti enjoyed two stellar spells – even if the second did only last a matter of months – at Roma, with a mixed five-year stint at Zenit St. Petersburg sandwiched in between. His previous role at Inter was another success, helping the Nerazzurri qualify for the Champions League for the first time in six years in 2018, before, well, Antonio Conte happened.

Spalletti’s your archetypal Italian coach and a venerated one at that. If Juve were to pursue him I wouldn’t necessarily have any objections. It would be a pretty safe appointment, unspectacular if you will and I don’t view him as the guy to return the Bianconeri to supremacy in European football.

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