From Maurizio to Mauricio?
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino is the favourite to replace Maurizio Sarri as Juventus manager, after the Italian was sacked by the Serie A champions less than 24 hours after their elimination from the Champions League.
The Old Lady were beaten on aggregate by Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais on Friday night, with two goals from talisman Cristiano Ronaldo proven not enough to get them over the line.
Sarri’s sacking comes less than a month after his side clinched their ninth consecutive league title, and his first in a coaching career that has spanned three decades and all levels of football.
According to Sky Italia, Lazio manager Simone Inzaghi is the club’s first choice to replace Sarri, but the fact that he still has one year on his contract at the Stadio Olimpico could prove a sticking point.
Also under consideration is Andrea Pirlo, who is now coaching the club’s under-23s, and Pochettino, who has not taken a job since being sacked by Spurs in late 2019.
He was reportedly approached by AS Monaco for their at the time vacant manager’s job, but turned it down. The job eventually went to to Niko Kovac.
Many see Pochettino as the ideal man for a job which would allow him to revitalise an ageing squad, as well as give him the opportunity to manage superstars and enforce his own philosophy on the team.
Elsewhere, Spanish football journalist Guillem Ballague has claimed that former Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri is the most likely option for the club.
Someone I trust just messaged me to say, "it will probably be Allegri". Ah well
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) August 8, 2020
Allegri enjoyed enormous success during his first spell at Juventus, winning five consecutive league titles, as well as four consecutive league and cup doubles.
During his time with the Bianconeri, he also reached two Champions League finals in three seasons, where his side were defeated first by Barcelona, and then by Real Madrid.
