Juventus is set to play against Genoa at the Allianz Stadium in Turin this Saturday. This match marks the first game for Igor Tudor as the new Juventus manager, following the departure of Thiago Motta during the international break. Tudor, who previously played for Juventus as a defender, returns to Serie A management after last coaching Lazio at the end of the 2023-24 season. He took over from Maurizio Sarri at Lazio but decided to leave at the end of the season. Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli brought in Tudor to guide the team to a top-four finish and Champions League qualification. Tudor`s contract is currently until the end of this season, which includes managing the team at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States this summer.
Tudor was introduced on Thursday in a press conference before his Serie A debut, which will be broadcast on CBS. He expressed his strong feelings for Juventus, stating, `I see myself as a coach. I started coaching early due to injuries. I`ve gained experience abroad. I can be demanding, but my decisions come from the heart. I`m here because I believe it`s the right move, regardless of the contract length. If it feels right, I stay; if not, I leave. But that`s not the case here.`
He added, `We focus on the present, especially in this profession. A ten-year contract wouldn`t change my approach. Of course, I`d like one, but I still need to do my job now. We have a game on Saturday, and we`re focused on that. That`s the life of a coach. We can`t predict the future. I`m concentrating on today`s training session.`
Here`s what you should know before Saturday`s game:
How to watch and odds
- Date: Saturday, Mar. 29 | 1 p.m. ET
- Location: Allianz Stadium — Turin, Italy
- TV: CBS
- Odds: Juventus -180; Draw +280; Genoa +550
Tudor`s history at Juventus
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 being relegated in 2006 due to the Calciopoli scandal. Although injured and not playing that season, he remained with the team under manager Didier Deschamps and agreed to a reduced salary. Tudor left Juventus in 2007 after nearly a decade and later returned as assistant manager to Andrea Pirlo in the 2020-21 season, winning the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana.
His managerial record
Tudor mentioned in his press conference that injuries led him to coaching early, retiring at 30 after a final season at Hajduk Split. He began coaching Hajduk Split`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 becoming Juventus`s assistant manager. He also managed Hellas Verona for a year, Olympique Marseille, and most recently Lazio, replacing Maurizio Sarri at the end of the 2023-24 season.
Style of play
Throughout his managerial career, Tudor has consistently employed an aggressive, high-pressing style of football. His approach is intense and disciplined in both attack and defense. He typically uses a three-man defense, often in a 3-4-1-2 or sometimes a 3-5-2 formation. His teams tend to favor direct transitions rather than slow, possession-based play. He emphasizes attacking football, as he stated during his time at Lazio, `I prefer to win, so I choose 4-3 over 1-0.`
Latest news
- Juventus sacked manager Thiago Motta and announced Igor Tudor as new coach until the end of the season.
- Juventus crisis explained: Reasons behind Thiago Motta`s sacking and the club`s future direction.
