Thiago Motta’s tenure as Juventus manager came to an abrupt end on Sunday, with the club officially announcing his dismissal. The Italian-Brazilian coach, who had been at the helm for less than a year, will be replaced by Igor Tudor for the remainder of the 2024/25 season.
Motta received the news via a phone call while he was in Cascais, Portugal, where his family resides. Despite the sudden nature of the decision, Motta reportedly accepted it calmly and without protest. His next steps will involve returning to Turin to collect his personal belongings from the club’s training centre, marking his final exit from Juventus’ facilities.
A Speech Left Unspoken
Before receiving the call that ended his time at Juventus, Motta had been preparing a speech for his players—a message that now remains unspoken. According to La Stampa, Motta’s words were meant to inspire the team as they faced a critical juncture in their season.
In his draft speech, Motta wrote:
“You must win for yourselves, not for me. My coaching career will continue for a long time, but for you, playing in the Champions League is an opportunity too great to miss or postpone. A footballer’s life is short.”
These words reflect Motta’s belief in his players and his understanding of the fleeting nature of their careers. However, they were never delivered, as his dismissal preempted any chance to rally the squad.
A Disappointing End
Motta’s departure comes after a string of poor results that left Juventus outside the top four in Serie A and eliminated from all cup competitions by March. The defeats against Atalanta (4-0) and Fiorentina (3-0) proved decisive in sealing his fate. Despite initial hopes that Motta could lead a new era at Juventus following Massimiliano Allegri’s departure, his tenure ended in disappointment.
