The Project Motta era at Juventus may not be as long lasting as we once thought, and the head coach had to issue another apology after Juve's sorry result.
Despite a run of five straight wins in Serie A pulling them within six points of leaders Inter, Sunday’s hefty 4-0 loss at home reiterates the fact that Juve’s chances of winning the Scudetto are highly unlikely.
In a season where all the big hitters have misfired, Juve’s staggering total of 13 draws have left them unable to capitalise, despite losing only once in Serie A all season.
Ignominious exits from the Champions League and Coppa Italia have left Motta under significant pressure, as he aims to secure Chsmpions League football next season.
Six potential replacements for Motta
1. Antonio Conte
Nationality: Italian
Age: 55
Current Club: Napoli
Previous Team: Tottenham Hotspur
Biggest Trophy Won: Serie A
Napoli boss Conte has emerged as a serious contender to replace Motta in the summer, with reporter Nicolo Schira tweeting that a faction has emerged within the club advocating for his return to the dugout.
All’interno della #Juventus c’è una corrente di pensiero che caldeggia il tentativo di provare a riportare Antonio #Conte sulla panchina bianconera. Un’opzione non presa in considerazione un anno fa, ma che potrebbe tornare d’attualità a maggio. #Napoli permettendo: dipenderà dai…
— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) February 28, 2025
The former midfielder is a legend at Juve, one of the most decorated and influential players in the club’s history. He captained the side between 1996 and 2001, winning five Serie A titles and one Coppa Italia domestically as well as the Champions League and UEFA Cup.
Conte then returned to Turin as manager in 2011, guiding them to three consecutive Serie A titles, the 2013 Supercoppa, and the Europa League semi-finals before departing to take charge of the Italian national team. Conte has since won the Premier League with Chelsea and a fourth Scudetto while at Inter Milan.
Conte has taken Napoli from a 10th-place finish in the previous campaign into this term's title hunt, despite financial constraints and key player departures. His magical touch may be just what Juve needs next season.
2. Gian Piero Gasperini
Nationality: Italian
Age: 67
Current Club: Atalanta
Previous Team: Genoa
Biggest Trophy Won: Europa League
After joining in 2016, Gasperini has turned Atalanta from mid-table regulars to a perennial Champions League side, whilst also shocking the world by handing Bayer Leverkusen their first loss of the season to win last year’s Europa League.
Gasperini, who has confirmed he will not renew his contract with Atalanta at the end of the season, has not been shy about his desire to return to the club he played with as a youth player and started as a coach.
Gasperini entered the Juventus youth system aged nine, winning an Allievi Nazionali championship, before joining a Primavera squad that included legends such as Paolo Rossi. He only ever played a handful of Coppa Italia matches with the first team, before being loaned to Reggiana.
Gasperini returned to Juve's youth system in 1994, coaching the Giovanissimi (U-14) for two years, before moving up to the Allievi (U-17). Became the manager of the Primavera (U-20) squad in 1998, and five later before leaving in 2003 to join Crotone for his first senior managerial gig.
Youth development has been integral to Gasperini’s success, and having someone so intimately familiar with the system at Juve could be the way forward as the club continues to tighten their belts.
3. Roberto De Zerbi
Nationality: Italian
Age: 45
Current Club: Olympique de Marseille
Previous Team: Brighton & Hove Albion
Biggest Trophy Won: Ukrainian Super Cup
De Zerbi first entered the limelight as coach at Serie A side Sassuolo, before moving to Shakhtar Donetsk in the Ukraine. His time there was cut short by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, instead opting to join Brighton & Hove Albion.
He encountered considerable success in the Premier League over two seasons, taking the Seagulls deep in Europe before he left following disagreements with the owners and was snapped up by OM last summer. OM sit second in Ligue 1 only trailing runaway leaders Paris Saint-Germain.
De Zerbi recently made his thoughts clear in an astonishing interview after a recent controversial 3-0 defeat at Auxerre, claiming that he would never coach in France again after he leaves OM.
4. Roberto Mancini
Nationality: Italian
Age: 60
Current Club: Free Agent
Previous Team: Saudi Arabia
Biggest Trophy Won: Euro 2020
With Conte, Gasperini and De Zerbi all currently at other clubs, Juventus may find themselves in need of a free agent if Motta is relieved of his duties before the end of the season. Serie A regulations do not allow clubs to hire a head coach from a rival side before the end of the season, officially 30 June.
Mancini’s last notable role saw him lift the Euro 2020 trophy with Italy, defeating England in the final, before accepting a big money deal to become Saudi Arabia manager. The Middle East reign lasted 14 months, leaving by mutual agreement after only seven wins from 18 games.
He has three Serie A titles with Inter Milan on his impressive CV, along with four Coppa Italia trophies across Inter, Fiorentina and Lazio. Mancini guided Manchester City to their first major trophy in 35 years, the 2010/11 FA Cup, and subsequently their first league title in 44 years the following season.
An interview with Tuttosport revealed that Mancini was a Juventus fan in his childhood, through his father, idolising the legendary Roberto Bettega. Could that flame be rekindled by giving him the coach’s jacket?
5. Xavi
Nationality: Spanish
Age: 45
Current Club: Free Agent
Previous Team: Barcelona
Biggest Trophy Won: La Liga
Another free agent is Barcelona legend Xavi who made over 700 appearances for the club, He became manager of the Blaugrana in 2021, winning La Liga and the Spanish Supercup during his two-and-a-half year spell.
Xavi fell victim to the chaotic atmosphere at Barcelona, meeting an undignified end. The former midfielder announced 12 months ago that he would resign as head coach, before pressure from the board forced him into a change of heart, confirming that he would in fact fulfil his contract until 2025. Despite this, the board changed their mind and heartlessly sacked him in May 2024.
Xavi has kept a low profile ever since, and turned down Inter Milan this season. L'Equipe reported that Juve had engaged in discussions, but Xavi didn’t want to return to football this season, leaving the door open for an appointment in the summer.
Xavi’s knowledge of possession football and his ability to work with young talents would make him an ideal candidate for a long term project, but can Juve afford to jettison Project Motta.
6. Igor Tudor
Nationality: Croatian
Age: 46
Current Club: Free Agent
Previous Team: Lazio
Biggest Trophy Won: Croatian Cup
Tudor loves Juventus, despite having been sacked as assistant manager to Andrea Pirlo at the end of the 2020/21 campaign. He is also a free agent that could interest the club.
Tudor joined the side as a player in 1998 and enjoyed eight years with the Turin titans. Although hampered by injuries, he was formidable at forming resolute defensive partnerships.
Scooped the 2002 Croatian Player of the Year award for his club and country endeavours. Juventus were arguably one of the best sides across the globe when Tudor was there as a player. He won two Serie A titles and two Italian Supercups.
His managerial career has been very stop-start. He spent one season as assistant head coach in Turin, but could return to run the show. Lasted less than three months at Lazio recently, who he helped to steer to seventh in Serie A and earn qualification for the Europa League. The Croatian resigned last June following disagreements with the club's hierarchy over transfer targets.