It has been managerial mayhem at Juventus since the club clinched the 2023/24 Coppa Italia.
Max Allegri’s uncharacteristic outburst to match officials during the Coppa Italia final resulted in an unceremonious exit. Yet his successor had already verbally agreed to tackle the 2024/24 campaign.
Juve sporting director Cristiano Guintoli had personally picked Bologna boss Thiago Motta. He gave him the freedom to revamp the squad at great cost, only for the three-year Project Motta to crash after nine months.
Igor Tudor answered Giuntoli’s SOS call for a nine-game stint, with the objective to secure a top four finish. The Croatian returned to Juve for a third spell in late March, and as interim head coach achieved the feat of netting Champions League soccer next term.
Despite Tudor collecting 18 out of a possible 27 Serie A points, the team displays were unconvincing and were far from easy on the eye.
New incentive
Yet his reward has been to take charge at the highly-lucrative 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, although he desperately wants to be appointed Juventus permanent manager.
His unwavering desire to win was never reflected in the performances on the pitch, which left the Turin titans compiling a shortlist of suitable head coaches. An appointment is expected to be announced next month, following the Club World Cup finals.
Marco Silva, the Fulham manager who is represented by super agent Jorge Mendes, was on the original shortlist of potential permanent Juve managers in April.
With a plethora of candidates falling by the wayside over the past few days — including Antonio Conte, Roberto De Zerbi and Gian Piero Gasperini — the Juve shortlist is starting to look a bit desperate.
Four guys
Former Italy manager Roberto Mancini, ex-AC Milan chief Stefano Pioli, Fulham boss Silva and Barcelona icon Xavi are the current quartet that appeal to Giuntoli aside from Tudor.
Mancini has not achieved any Serie A for a considerable time, and his last job was an ill-fated stint as Saudi Arabia head coach.
Pioli, who won the 2021/22 Scudetto, is on the radar at Atalanta if he leaves the Saudi Pro League.
Giuntoli, who is under intense pressure, surprisingly selected Silva as a contingency plan.
While Xavi was sounded out by Juventus, and in an interview with French sports paper L'Equipe reiterated his desire to return to management.
The focus is firmly back on Silva, who has only won four trophies during his coaching career. His last silverware was the 2020/21 English Football Championship with Fulham.
Winning streak
Yet Championship-winning managers tasted massive success last season, with both Giuntoli and Mendes believing that Silva could repeat that pattern.
Vincent Kompany made the shock move from Burnley to Bayern Munich in May 2024, and has just lifted the German Bundesliga. While Enzo Maresca, a former Juventus player, joined Chelsea last summer with his side crowned 2024/25 Conference League champions.
Silva, whose contract expires at the end of the next campaign, has established Fulham as a battling mid-table team. They finished the season in 11th, after losing five of their last seven Premier League games.
The 47-year-old Portuguese manager has a €9.35million (US$10.6m) release clause in his contract at Craven Cottage, which from July drops to €7m (US$8m).
Bargain deal
These figures only apply to Premier League clubs and mean that Juventus need only pay €2.35m (US$2.65m) to secure Silva, who joined Fulham in July 2021.
Saudi Arabia Pro outfit Al-Hilal remain admirers of Silva, who turned down their approach two years, with Tottenham Hotspur a possibility if the Europa League champions decide to show Ange Postecoglou the exit door.
Sergio Conceicao was the last Portuguese manager to be appointed in Serie A. He arrived at AC Milan in December, but the club’s stuttering season continued with Conceicao recently sacked and replaced by Allegri.
Tudor had to rely on a nervous last day victory at Venezia, who were relegated to Serie B, to survive the chop and achieve his objective for a top four finish.
Clinching Champions League soccer next term was touch and go, but it automatically triggered talks about a one-year deal as permanent head coach.
Tense Tudor
Sensing that the club were not enthusiastic about offering him the role, Tudor made an outburst about his future.
His agent intervened to straighten things out, and left many Juventus fans scratching their heads as to why Tudor was picked over Mancini.
With Silva’s tactics lacking the high-pressing style of play employed by Tudor, it could be a breath of fresh air following years of dull displays under Allegri, Motta and Tudor. Short passes to generate free-flowing attacks can be visually pleasing at Fulham, but may not work in Italy’s top-flight.
Juventus urgently require a manager who purely wants to win games, which is part of the club’s DNA. Tudor knows that from his experience at the club, and will have a shot at winning over the club hierarchy at the Club World Cup.
Tudor’s days seem numbered at the Juve, especially if his avid fan Giuntoli departs. Yet the search continues, despite the availability and interest of Mancini and Xavi.