After two years, Massimiliano Allegri is back on the Juventus bench. The return of the coach was officially announced Friday. He reportedly signed a contract until 2024 and will make €9M per year, becoming the highest-paid manager in Serie A. The Bianconeri beat the fierce competition coming from Real Madrid, Inter, and Napoli by giving him more sway in the transfer market. Andrea Pirlo was formally axed earlier today.
The club initially teased his return on Twitter by referencing Minnesota, the name of a horse mentioned in one of his iconic pressers, and the jacket thrown to the ground during a fit in Carpi.
Allegri previously spent time in Turin from 2014, when he took over after the sudden departure of Antonio Conte, till 2019, when he was sacked and replaced by Maurizio Sarri. He won the Scudetto in each of the five seasons at the helm, adding four Coppa Italia and three Supercoppa.
He reached the Champions League final twice, losing to Real in Cardiff in 2015 and against Barcelona in Berlin in 2017. He is currently the coach with the highest winning percentage (75%) in Serie A history. He prevailed in 191 out of 271 total matches in his previous spell with the Old Lady, amassing 43 draws and 37 losses.
The 53-year-old manager will be accompanied by his full staff, composed of his right-hand man Marco Landucci, athletic trainer Aldo Dolcetti, assistants Maurizio Trombetta and Aldo Dolcetti, physiotherapist Stefano Grani and scouts Emilio Doveri and Paolo Sodi.
Allegri is the third gaffer heading back to Juventus after some time away from the club in recent history. Giovanni Trapattoni failed to win the title but took home his third UEFA cup in his second stint. Marcello Lippi triumphed twice domestically and lost to Milan in the 2003 Champions League final at Old Trafford in his return.