Igor Tudor’s time as Juventus head coach has officially come to an end. The Croatian manager was dismissed on Monday morning following a night of deep reflection within the club. The reins have been temporarily handed to Massimo Brambilla, the current Next Gen coach, while the management continues its search for a permanent successor.
Tudor’s dismissal came less than 24 hours after the defeat to Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico — the result that ultimately proved fatal to his tenure. However, the decision was the consequence of a longer period of unrest rather than a single result.
According to reports from IlBianconero, the club’s hierarchy had grown increasingly frustrated with the team’s inconsistent performances and lack of tactical clarity. Results and style were both under scrutiny, with some within the club drawing parallels to the turbulent Maifredi era of the early 1990s. Tudor’s outspoken nature also failed to endear him to the board. His post-match comments after the fixtures against Verona, Como, and Real Madrid — in which he criticised referees and the congested fixture calendar — were not well received.
In the dressing room, fractures had begun to appear. Despite public backing from players, behind the scenes the atmosphere had cooled. His recent criticism of full-back Andrea Cambiaso epitomised the growing disconnect between the coach and his squad. Ultimately, Tudor’s direct manner and perceived lack of diplomacy contributed to his downfall, as did the persistent image of him as a “caretaker” figure — a label he struggled to shake despite his own efforts.
The decisive moment came overnight, following the Lazio loss, when top executives gathered to reassess the situation. By morning, consensus had been reached. John Elkann personally intervened to finalise the decision, viewing further delay as too risky for Juventus’s league ambitions. The team’s tactical confusion and absence of a clear identity made it increasingly difficult to justify continued patience.
With just over six months at the helm, Tudor’s spell ends abruptly, marking another turbulent chapter in a season of transition for Juventus. The hunt for a new manager is already underway, with the spectre of Thiago Motta’s potential return lingering over the club’s next move.
