Juventus Bets on a Proven Italian for a Fresh Start

What’s Next for Juventus?

An Italian newspaper report on Monday suggests Luciano Spalletti, the former Napoli boss and Italy’s national-team coach, is closest to stepping in as Juventus’ new manager to replace Croatian Igor Todor.

Juventus formally announced Todor’s dismissal today due to disappointing results.

According to Sky Italia, Spalletti leads the shortlist to take over the coaching duties from Todor.

Sky Italia added that Spalletti is the club’s first choice for the coming phase, and negotiations will begin with the Italian coach in the hours ahead.

Spalletti left the Italy job in June this year after the federation relieved him of duty due to poor results, with compatriot Gennaro Gattuso taking over in his stead.

Throughout his career he has also led Inter, Roma, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Udinese, and Empoli.

Todor, by contrast, managed Juventus in 24 matches, recording 10 wins, 8 draws, and 6 defeats.

Juventus’ form remained negative, with a 1-0 loss to Lazio yesterday following defeats to Real Madrid and Como.

They failed to score for the fourth straight match, the worst such run since March 1991 under Giampiero Maifredi.

Juventus have not won in eight matches across all competitions, with five draws and three losses, their worst streak since 2009.

The team dropped to eighth in Serie A with 12 points, six points behind leaders Napoli and Roma.

Brambilla as interim

The decision to sack Todor had been on the table even before the Lazio game, but board divisions delayed the final call.

La Gazzetta dello Sport noted some directors were not convinced of an immediate dismissal, yet the team’s stagnation and lack of spirit made continuation impossible, leading to Todor’s exit.

Post-Todor options

Italian media have begun circulating a list of names linked to replacing Todor.

The list is led by Luciano Spalletti, the former Napoli coach who steered the club to the title two seasons ago.

Also mentioned are Roberto Mancini, who resigned as Italy’s coach in 2023 and was later dismissed by Saudi Arabia, and Raffaele Baldini, who left a mark with Monza last season, along with Thiago Motta, who was dismissed by Juventus in March but remains under contract until 2027.

The four candidates reflect different directions: some favor a long-term project with a young coach, others want a big name to restore discipline and identity quickly.

Between chaos and conflicting options

Since taking charge, Todor faced the difficult task of reassembling a team that had lost balance, and his frequent lineup and tactical changes worsened matters.

The Croatian coach rotated between 3-5-2, 4-3-3, and 3-4-1-2 without settling on a single approach, causing clear confusion among players.

This tactical volatility showed in performances, especially among forwards who suffered from isolation and a lack of supply, alongside a drop in midfield form.

Del Piero defends the coach

Legend Alessandro Del Piero, now a Sky Italia pundit, defended Todor against the idea of blaming the coach for the collapse.

In his analysis after the loss to Lazio, Del Piero said, “The coach isn’t the problem. The situation is more complex. The team hasn’t gelled yet; internal build and balance issues matter more than the coach’s identity.”

He noted that while losses to Real Madrid and Lazio were 0-1, there was some improvement, and the Como match was the weakest link in the recent run.

“It’s not logical to think another coach will win the Scudetto for this team; the problem runs deeper, lacking a clear identity, and Todor hasn’t found his starting XI yet,” he added.

The former star stressed the team lacks a solid core to build on, adding that “he doesn’t yet have a stable starting XI because there aren’t players performing at the same level every week. Look at Europe’s best teams — they have a clear starting lineup that starts every big game.”

A Crisis Beyond Todor

Analysts argue Juventus’ crisis extends beyond tactics to administrative and financial realms, with the club in a transitional phase after seasons marked by governance scandals, point deductions, and the Plusvalenze cases that affected stability.

Todor tried to give the team a tougher defensive identity and fast transitions, but the reality was a decline in player quality versus rivals Inter, Milan, and Napoli.

The next match will be against Udinese under Brambilla, leaving the club amid questions about the coaching staff’s future.

Fans demand a wholesale rebuild, while the management hopes this decision marks a turning point before the crisis worsens.