Juventus have given the boot to their past two managers, with Igor Tudor now in charge on an interim basis. There’s been endless rumors in the Italian media of who will next take charge of the Turin titans.
Should another Serie A head coach join Juve in the summer, that could trigger the domino effect of changes in the dugout throughout the Italian top-flight.
Antonio Conte, highly successful as a player and manager at Juventus, is on the brink of lifting the Scudetto in his maiden season at Napoli.
As Conte is believed to have a fractious working relationship with Napoli chairman Aurelio De Laurentiis, the ex-Italy manager could potentially tear up his contract and be lured back to Juve.
Former Barcelona boss Xavi, Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini and ex-Italy manager Roberto Mancini are the other big names associated with the Juventus hot-seat.
Yet two Juventus head coaches are seeking a return to the Italian top tier since being unceremoniously axed.
Alllegri has admirers
Max Allegri, sacked shortly after lifting the Coppa Italia last year, has been strongly linked to jobs in England, Italy and Saudi Arabia. His high wage demands put off West Ham United last year, the cash-rich Saudi Pro beckons, while AC Milan, AS Roma and Napoli are all viable destinations next term.
Thiago Motta, fired by Juve after just nine months in his three-year Project Motta, is understood to be interested in Milan despite no vacancy yet. The ex-Bologna boss became a draw specialist for the Turin giants, with 16 stalemates from his 42 matches at the helm.
Sergio Conceicao, father of Juve’s out-of-favor loanee Francisco, is under immense pressure as Milan have stuttered in Serie A. He only arrived last December on an 18-month deal, following the sacking of Paulo Fonseca.
Although Milan have picked up the pace in recent weeks, the fact that they were beaten 1-0 in this month’s Coppa Italia final by Bologna has left Conceicao under severe scrutiny at the San Siro.
Sarri ruled out
Igli Tare is joining Milan as the director of sport, so a managerial change could be imminent. Ex-Juventus manager Maurizio Sarri is likely to be out of the question to end up at Milan, because he had a tense working relationship at Lazio with Tare.
Former Juventus target Roberto De Zerbi, highly-rated Como manager Cesc Fabregas and Bologna boss Vincenzo Italiano have also been linked with Milan as Conceicao appears to be on the brink of leaving.
Italiano, who has experienced a sensational season after replacing Motta at Bologna, has been offered a new deal until 2028. He is on the radar of a plethora of Serie A sides, but not Juventus. He was overlooked by Juve last year when Fiorentina boss because of his lack of silverware, yet the club picked Motta.
Scooping the coveted Coppa Italia has elevated Italiano’s stature within Italy, while Juventus should be kicking themselves for being so dismissive and instead have paid the price by enduring a topsy-turvy campaign.