Juve interim manager Igor Tudor was hand-picked by the sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli, who Italian sports papers are reporting is about to suffer a vast pay-off with an imminent departure.
This should lessen the backing for Tudor to be promoted to permanent manager, as rivals for the coveted role are rapidly falling by the wayside.
Juventus had a shortlist of three head coaches just over a year ago, two won trophies in Italy and the other one joined the Bianconeri.
Last season's shortlist
Antonio Conte, Vincenzo Italiano and Thiago Motta were the final trio on the wanted list.
With Guintoli having done his homework, he had a verbal agreement with the Bologna boss Motta despite Max Allegri still being in charge.
Allegri was sacked following his verbal outburst towards officials after Juventus won the 2022/24 Coppa Italia. He has since been out of action, but has agreed to take over at AC Milan.
Conte and Italiano were overlooked by Giuntoli, but proved last term that Juventus had made a mistake by both lifting silverware.
Former Juve player and manager Conte had already claimed three Serie A titles at the Turin titans. He came back to the Italian top tier with aplomb by steering Napoli to their second Scudetto in three seasons.
Conte has decided to sta with Napoli, despite the endless speculation that he would tear up his three-year contract to rejoin Juventus.
Italiano left Fiorentina to fill the shoes of Motta. Although his side stuttered towards the end of the season, losing their final three league games to slip from fourth to finish in ninth, Italiano clinched the Coppa Italia.
Bologna's new heights
The Coppa Italia, since the 2008/09 season, has only been lifted by the four giants of Inter Milan, Juventus, Lazio and Napoli. Bologna’s 1-0 Coppa Italia success over AC Milan in May was a massive achievement.
Italiano was touted to be snapped up by a rival Serie A side, but he has decided to stay with Bologna.
In stark contrast Motta survived just nine months into the planned three-year Project Motta, given the boot for a plethora of reasons that included the inability to win matches.
Winning is everything to a club the stature of Juventus, who are not just by chance the best supported team in Italy.
Giuntoli was under pressure to make amends for his error of judgement for bringing in Motta, and made an SOS call to Tudor to return to Turin as an emergency stop gap.
Third time lucky
Tudor was back at the club for the third time in late March, having previously played in defense and been assistant manager to Andrea Pirlo.
It took until a last day victory at lowly Venezia for Juventus to seal a top four finish, and with it the financial riches that will come from competing in the Champions League.
That nervous 3-2 triumph saw Venezia relegated to Serie B, with the result reflecting that Juve have still not found their rhythm.
Tudor’s nine Serie A games only saw one defeat, a shock 1-0 reversal at Parma, with the other contests pretty labored and lacking the flair expected from Juventus.
As part of the agreement of a top four finish, Tudor has automatically triggered talks with the club hierarchy about a one-year deal as permanent head coach.
Outspoken Tudor
After the Serie A concluded, Tudor’s outburst set the cat among the pigeons as he demanded his role to be determined before the club head to the United States for the prestigious 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
His agent intervened to straighten things out, because Tudor’s future will be determined by how Juventus get on in the revamped 32-club tournament.
Tudor was picked over ex-Italy boss Roberto Mancini as a temporary measure, as the Croatian was a cheaper option and made less demands.
There is little belief on Juventus fan forums that Tudor’s unexciting style of play and dull tactics can help return the glory days. No doubt many within the club hierarchy will be sitting on the fence, and waiting to learn about other candidates.
Gian Piero Gasperini was one of the safe pairs of hands that was expected to be in with a shot of taking over the reins at Juve. Yet after nine years at Atalanta, he appears to be embarking on a new challenge by taking over at AS Roma.
Pioli is possible
Stefano Pioli, best known for his 2021/22 Scudetto at AC Milan, is one of the candidates that Atalanta are eyeing up and could scupper Juve’s potential interest.
He experienced a poor season in the Saudi Pro League with Al-Nassr, and had a tricky working relationship with former Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Pioli is most likely to jump rather than be pushed, so Serie A beckons next term.
Roberto De Zerbi was also in the mix to join Juventus, but the former Sassuolo manager has agreed to stay in the French top-flight with Olympique Marseille. He was heavily linked with a return to the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur if the Juve hot-seat was not up for grabs.
Zinedine Zidane only wants to take over the role as France manager from Didier Deschamps one day, rather than return to club management. Both Zidane and Deschamps were heroes as Juventus players.
Xavi has desire
Former Barcelona boss Xavi was sounded out by Juventus, and shortly gave an interview with French sports paper L'Equipe that reiterated his desire to return to management.
However, he explained that he would not wish to join a club mid-season. That squashed the rumors swirling around that the Spaniard would sign for either Juventus or Manchester United in February.
Mancini, who has not achieved any Serie A for a considerable time, is also in the frame to become Juve manager. His achievements as Italy boss speak volumes, although his ill-fated stint as Saudi Arabia head coach leaves huge question marks over his suitability.
Juventus are expecting to overhaul their boardroom and playing squad, but one serious dilemma is who do they pick as their next permanent manager?