Tudor’s Juventus career: backup defender and disagreements with Pirlo

GENOA, ITALY – APRIL 19: Igor Tudor, head coach of Lazio, looks on prior to kick-off in the Serie A TIM match between Genoa CFC and SS Lazio at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on April 19, 2024 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images)

Igor Tudor is not only a former Juventus defender but also worked as Andrea Pirlo’s assistant in Turin during the 2020-21 campaign.

Ex-Verona, Udinese and Lazio coach Igor Tudor has emerged as the leading candidate to replace Thiago Motta at Juventus, although Roberto Mancini remains an option for the Bianconeri.

Tudor is clearly a familiar face at Juventus, having spent many years of his playing career in Turin.

The former Croatia international spent seven and a half years at Juventus, from 1998 to 2005, making 174 appearances and scoring 21 goals.

Tudor’s Juventus career: backup defender and disagreements with Pirlo

Tudor was not a regular starter in Turin but still played several games with the Bianconeri, scoring some crucial goals, including a late winner in a Champions League match against Deportivo la Coruña in 2003, which helped the Bianconeri qualify for the knockout phase.

The Old Lady reached the Champions League Final that season but lost on penalties to domestic rivals Milan at Old Trafford.

Tudor won two Serie A titles and two Supercoppa Italiana at Juventus.

The ex-defender returned to Turin many years later as part of Pirlo’s technical staff.

Pirlo remained at the helm for only one season, but Tudor’s experience as part of the Italian legend’s staff proved disappointing.

“This year was tough, but in the end, we managed to qualify for the Champions League and won the Coppa Italia. Yet, they still fired us. I’m disappointed, and I don’t think it’s fair. But I’ve decided: I will never be anyone’s assistant again,” Tudor said at the end of the 2020-21 campaign.

“Pirlo called me to Juventus. The club compiled a list of five names, and [Fabio] Paratici left the decision to Pirlo, who chose me. But since he is very close friends with [Roberto] Baronio, he brought him in as well, along with another analyst, and put us all on the same level. That wasn’t right because, after all, I am a coach. But I accepted because it was Juventus.”