Turin (Italy), May 28: Massimiliano Allegri returned to Juventus on Friday, taking over as coach only hours after Andrea Pirlo left the job.
Allegri won five straight Serie A titles with Juventus, including four league and cup doubles, and also reached two Champions League finals. He was fired by the club two years ago.
“Massimiliano Allegri is the Juventus coach once more. Massimiliano Allegri is the Juventus coach once more,” Juventus said in a statement, excitedly repeating itself.
“Allegri returns to a bench that he knows very well, a club that he loves and that loves him back, to begin today a new journey together, toward new goals.”
The 53-year-old Allegri has reportedly signed a three-year deal with the club.
Pirlo coached Juventus for only one season, but the team’s fourth-place finish ended a run of nine straight Serie A titles. The club did not say whose decision it was to go, but reports in Italy say the 42-year-old Pirlo was fired.
Pirlo appeared surprised at the decision, writing on Instagram that he “reached all the objectives that were asked of me” and that his time at the club had ended “in a way I didn’t expect.”
Pirlo, a former Juventus player who had never coached at any level before taking over, was appointed last year after Maurizio Sarri was fired.
Juventus won the Italian Cup and the Super Cup under Pirlo, but Inter Milan won the Serie A title. (AP)
