On Saturday, Juventus will host Genoa at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. This match marks the debut of Igor Tudor as the new manager, following Juventus`s decision to replace Thiago Motta during the international break. Tudor, a former defender for Juventus, returns to Serie A management a year after his tenure as Lazio coach in the 2023-24 season. He had taken over from Maurizio Sarri at Lazio but chose to leave at the end of the season.
Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli appointed Tudor to guide the team to a top-four finish and Champions League qualification. Tudor`s contract extends at least to the end of the current season, which includes the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States this summer.
Tudor was introduced on Thursday before his first Serie A game. In a press conference, he expressed his dedication to the club: `I see myself as a coach. I started coaching early because of injuries. I`ve worked abroad for years. I`m detail-oriented and make heartfelt decisions. Contract or not, if it feels right, I stay; if not, I leave. This situation feels right.`
`We focus on the present. A ten-year contract doesn`t change the immediate job. While desirable, the task is to work now. We have a game on Saturday; that`s the coach`s reality. The future is uncontrollable; today`s training is what matters.`
Tudor`s Juventus Past
Tudor has a significant history with Juventus as a player, with 174 appearances and 21 goals as a defender. He won two Serie A titles (2001-02, 2002-03), two Italian Super Cups (2002, 2003), and the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1999. He was also part of the Juventus team that won the Serie B title after relegation due to the Calciopoli scandal in 2006, though injury kept him sidelined that season. He remained with the club, accepting a reduced salary, and returned as assistant manager to Andrea Pirlo in the 2020-21 season, winning the Coppa Italia and Italian Super Cup.
Managerial Career
Tudor began coaching early due to injuries, retiring at 30 after a final season at Hajduk Split. He coached Hajduk`s youth teams before managing the first team, winning the Croatian Cup in 2013. He then coached Karabükspor, PAOK, Galatasaray, Udinese, and Hajduk again before his Juventus assistant role. He managed Hellas Verona for a year, then Olympique Marseille, and most recently Lazio, replacing Maurizio Sarri in the 2023-24 season.
Playing Style
Tudor favors aggressive, high-pressing football with intense discipline in attack and defense. He typically uses a three-man defense in formations like 3-4-1-2 or 3-5-2. His teams prioritize direct transitions over slow possession. He prefers attacking play, stating at Lazio, `I prefer to win 4-3 over 1-0.`
Latest Updates
- Juventus replaced Thiago Motta with Igor Tudor as coach until season`s end.
- Insights into Juventus`s decision to replace Thiago Motta and future plans.
Adrian Whitmore 
Benedict Kingsley