Official: Juventus sack Andrea Pirlo as manager

Juventus have confirmed Andrea Pirlo’s fate as head coach following a disappointing season.

Andrea Pirlo has been relived of his role as Juventus manager after a difficult first season in charge.

The 42-year-old took the job last summer despite having never been a head coach. In fact, he had just agreed to take charge of the U-23 side a week before replacing Maurizio Sarri.

Despite his inexperience, Pirlo led Juventus to two titles in the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana. He also oversaw a famous 3-0 Champions League win over Barcelona at Camp Nou.

But the Bianconeri suffered a last-16 exit to Porto in the Champions League and lost the Serie A title for the first time in nine years with a fourth-place finish. Had Hellas Verona not held Napoli to a 1-1 final day draw, Juve would’ve been condemned to Europa League football.

OFFICIAL: Andrea Pirlo has been sacked as head coach of Juventus after one season in charge pic.twitter.com/BgGiEvqkH3

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The club board has, therefore, decided to release Pirlo amid reports of a return for former boss Massimiliano Allegri.

A club statement read: “Thank you, Andrea.

“These are the first words that all of us need to say at the end of this special experience together.

“A few months ago, Andrea Pirlo, an icon of world football, began his new adventure, his first as a coach.

“To do this, first of all, it takes courage, as well as awareness of one’s own means, especially in a period marked by thousands of difficulties, with the world forced by the pandemic to reinvent its own rules day after day.

“Pirlo has just begun the first steps of what will no doubt become a brilliant career as a coach. An adventure of transformation, seeking, and often managing, to bring his ideas and his experience as a champion on the pitch from the “other side” of the fence.

“And since in football, what counts are the victories, let’s remember them: in the space of a few short months Pirlo’s Juve has raised two trophies: The Italian Supercup and the Coppa Italia. And he, as coach, brought home brilliant victories on the most prestigious of fields, from San Siro to Camp Nou.

“For all this, for the courage, the dedication, the passion with which he demonstrated every day, our thanks go to the Maestro, the Coach and to Andrea, that really comes from the heart. As well as our good luck for the future that will surely be a wonderful one.”