Zidane, Pochettino or Inzaghi for Juventus?

Juventus Football Club Emblem

Following the Champions League exit, Juventus are reportedly looking at replacements for Maurizio Sarri, including Zinedine Zidane, Mauricio Pochettino and Simone Inzaghi.


The Bianconeri crashed out of Europe’s premier competition at the Round of 16 phase, unable to overturn the 1-0 first leg defeat to Olympique Lyonnais.

They won 2-1 in Turin on Friday night, but it was not enough to avoid elimination on away goals.

President Andrea Agnelli said he would “take a few days to evaluate” the situation and the entire season, which apart from the ninth consecutive Scudetto earned with eventually a one-point margin over Inter, showed very little to be positive about.

Juve lost the Italian Supercup to Lazio, the Coppa Italia Final to Napoli and failed to display any of the scintillating football Sarri had been brought in for.

All the main Italian newspapers and media sources are confident Sarri will be replaced over the next few days.

Zidane would be the ideal heir, having already won so much with Juventus as a player, but above all with his Champions League pedigree of three consecutive trophies with Real Madrid.

He left the Merengues and then returned, but was also eliminated from the competition last night by Manchester City.

In his post-match press conference, Zidane was not entirely clear on his future.

“I am here. I am the Real Madrid coach unless something happens.”

However, having won the Liga title, it remains unlikely Zidane will walk away from Real Madrid again so soon.

Pochettino is the most plausible candidate, as he is a free agent and recently said he’d love to try a new experience after the Premier League.

The Argentine also commented when he faced Juve on the Tottenham Hotspur bench that his family back home are Bianconeri supporters, because his Italian roots are based in the Turin area.

As for Simone Inzaghi, he is fresh from taking Lazio to fourth place and Champions League qualification, not to mention winning the Coppa Italia and Italian Supercup over the last year.

It’s precisely because of that success and entry into the tournament next season that he will not be eager to leave the Stadio Olimpico just yet.