Luciano Spalletti has officially returned to club management after being appointed as the new head coach of Juventus, replacing the sacked Igor Tudor.
Juventus announced on Thursday that Spalletti has been handed a contract running until June 30, 2026, with the primary task of securing Champions League qualification for next season. Should he achieve that goal, the club is expected to extend his stay and entrust him with restoring Juventus’ dominance in Italian football.
A Proven Winner Returns to Serie A
Spalletti, aged 66, is no stranger to success in Italy. He famously led Napoli to a historic Serie A title in 2023, ending the club’s 33-year wait for the Scudetto. His coaching career has also seen impressive spells at Roma and Inter Milan, where he consistently exceeded expectations and earned a reputation as one of the country’s most influential tacticians.
His triumph in Naples was so personal that Spalletti even tattooed Napoli’s club crest on his arm, vowing at the time that he would never manage another Italian club after such a historic achievement.
However, he now returns to the dugout — coincidentally on what would have been Diego Maradona’s 65th birthday — ready to take on a fresh challenge with the Bianconeri.
From National Team Struggles to Club Redemption
Spalletti’s recent stint as Italy’s national team coach ended in disappointment. What was supposed to be the crowning chapter of his career turned sour after Italy’s failed title defence at Euro 2024 and a humiliating defeat to Norway in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign.
The poor run ultimately led to his departure in June, leaving his reputation dented — but far from broken. His return to Juventus now presents an opportunity for redemption at one of Europe’s most storied clubs.
Juventus at a Crossroads
Juventus themselves have endured a turbulent period both on and off the pitch. The club has faced inconsistent results, multiple managerial changes, and ongoing financial issues. Tudor was brought in last season to steady the ship after the sacking of Thiago Motta, who had initially been appointed to usher in a new era of attacking football following Massimiliano Allegri’s departure.
Off the pitch, Juventus continues to grapple with the aftermath of financial scandals. The club posted €58 million in losses last season and has yet to fully recover from the mass board resignations in late 2022 — an episode that led to a 10-point deduction in the following campaign.
Former chairman Andrea Agnelli was subsequently handed two bans by the Italian Football Federation and, more recently, received a 20-month suspended prison sentence after a plea bargain.
The Road Ahead
Despite these challenges, Juventus offered a glimmer of hope with a 3-1 victory over Udinese on Wednesday, marking their first win since mid-September. The result lifted them to seventh place in Serie A, six points behind league leaders Napoli and Roma.
Spalletti’s first assignment will be a tricky away match against Cremonese, last season’s Serie B surprise package, who currently sit just one point and place below Juventus after nine matches.
As the veteran tactician takes charge in Turin, fans will be eager to see whether Spalletti can reignite Juventus’ spirit and lead them back to the heights of Italian and European football.
