Juventus: Ranking Andrea Pirlo’s potential replacements

4. Gian Piero Gasperini

Man-marking all over the park, centre-backs bursting in-behind and diamond rotations down the flanks, Gian Piero Gasperini is no ordinary coach.

The Marcelo Bielsa of Calcio has been crucial in Atalanta’s recent meteoric rise, with his achievements in Bergamo – when you put into context the financial stature of the club – utterly staggering. It’s one of the great coaching stories in Italian football history.

Gasperini spent almost ten years as a coach in Juve’s academy and is regarded by former Bianconeri striker Raffaele Palladino as the “ideal” man to succeed Pirlo.

However, while Gasp’s spellbinding system has the potential to morph Juve into an attacking juggernaut, its niche nature means his appointment would be a huge risk. His disastrous spell at Inter paints a pretty bleak picture of what a Gasperini-coached side looks like if he struggles to inculcate his principles.

3. Simone Inzaghi

Lazio boss Simone Inzaghi is another who’s widely been touted as a future Juventus manager throughout his five stellar years with the Biancocelesti.

Inzaghi’s 3-5-2 has transformed Lazio since his arrival, with their verticality and counter-attacking proficiency both distinctive. Had they not been decimated by injury at centre-back this term, there’s little doubting that they’d be having more of a say in the top-four race as we approach the final matchday of the campaign.

Nevertheless, Inzaghi’s Lazio future is up in the air with his contract set to expire in the summer. Reports suggest that talks regarding a new deal will be held following the Biancocolesti’s trip to Sassuolo on Sunday, although Inzaghi has recently been quoted saying that he’s “optimistic by nature”, opening the door for a potential exit.

Juve will be tough to reject if they come calling, while Tottenham are also said to be admirers amid their search for Jose Mourinho’s successor.