Juventus have sacked Andrea Pirlo after a few months in charge as manager, winning the Italian Supercup and the Coppa Italia.
Pirlo had taken over from Maurizio Sarri in August on a deal that was to last till June 2022. Before then, he was the club’s Under-23 manager.
Reports say he will be replaced by the club’s former manager, Massimiliano Allegri.
Confirming Pirlo’s exit, Juventus issued a statement on their official website to bid him farewell.
“Thank you, Andrea. These are the first words that all of us need to say at the end of this special experience together,” the statement read.
“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.”
