Igor Tudor is set to make his debut as the new Juventus manager this Saturday when the team faces Genoa at the Allianz Stadium in Turin. This appointment comes after Juventus parted ways with Thiago Motta during the international break. Tudor is a familiar face at Juventus, having played as a defender for the club in the past. He returns to Serie A management after a year, his last role being head coach of Lazio at the end of the 2023-24 season. He had taken over from Maurizio Sarri at Lazio but decided to leave at the end of that season. Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has tasked Tudor with securing a top-four finish and Champions League qualification. Tudor`s contract will run at least until the end of the current season, which also includes managing the team in the FIFA Club World Cup this summer in the United States.
Tudor was presented on Thursday before his first Serie A match. During a press conference, he expressed his strong connection with Juventus, stating, `I consider myself a coach. I started coaching early due to injuries. I`ve worked abroad for several years. I am detail-oriented and follow my heart in making decisions. My commitment is not about contracts; it`s about whether I feel it`s the right fit. Here, it feels right.`
He further added, `We focus on the present in this profession. A ten-year contract wouldn`t change my approach. Of course, I`d like one, but I still need to focus on the job at hand. We have a game on Saturday, and we are focused on that. A coach lives in the moment and concentrates on today`s training session.`
Tudor`s Juventus History as a Player
Igor Tudor has a significant history with Juventus as a player. He played 174 matches for the club, scoring 21 goals as a defender. During his time at Juventus, he won two Serie A titles (2001-02, 2002-03), two Italian Supercups (2002, 2003), and the UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1999. He was also part of the Juventus team that won the Serie B title after the club`s relegation in 2006 due to the Calciopoli scandal. Although he missed that season due to injury, he remained with the team under manager Didier Deschamps and agreed to a reduced salary. Tudor left Juventus in 2007 after nearly a decade with the club. He later returned as assistant manager to Andrea Pirlo in the 2020-21 season, during which they won the Coppa Italia and the Italian Supercoppa.
Managerial Career Highlights
Tudor began his coaching career early due to injuries forcing his retirement at 30, after a final season at Hajduk Split. He started coaching Hajduk`s youth teams before becoming first-team manager, winning the Croatian Cup in 2013. His managerial journey continued at clubs like Karabükspor, PAOK, Galatasaray, Udinese, and again at Hajduk Split before his stint as assistant manager at Juventus. He then managed Hellas Verona for a year, followed by Olympique Marseille and Lazio, where he replaced Maurizio Sarri last season.
Playing Style as a Manager
Throughout his managerial career, Tudor has consistently implemented an aggressive, high-pressing style of football. His approach is intense and disciplined in both attack and defense. He typically employs a three-man defense, favoring a 3-4-1-2 or occasionally a 3-5-2 formation. His teams prioritize direct transitions over slow, possession-based play. Tudor prefers attacking football, as he stated during his time at Lazio, `I prefer to win, and for me, 4-3 is better than 1-0.`
Recent Developments
- Juventus dismissed manager Thiago Motta and announced Igor Tudor as the new coach until the season`s end.
- Analysis of Juventus`s decision to sack Thiago Motta and the club`s future direction.
