Juventus confirm termination of Andrea Pirlo's contract

Juventus have confirmed Andrea Pirlo has left his role as first team manager, with Massimiliano Allegri expected to take over.

The former Juve midfielder was given one of the most high-profile jobs in European football after he was handed the reins at the Old Lady last summer.

With no previous managerial experience under his belt and Juventus' squad needing a huge overhaul, the appointment looked a risky one and so it turned out.

Pirlo struggled to mount a serious title challenge as Juventus failed to be crowned Serie A champions for the first time since 2010, and their place in next season's Champions League was only secured following a win over Bologna on the final day of the season.

I Bianconeri's hierarchy have continued to publicly back Pirlo and insisted that even an inability to qualify for next season's Champions League would have no impact on the rookie boss' future, yet despite having secured a fourth-placed finish they've gone and sacked him anyway.

In a statement released on the club's official website, Juventus confirmed Pirlo's time at the club had come to an end less than a year after taking over, though they thanked him for his efforts.

It reads: "These are the first words that all of us must pronounce at the end of this special experience lived together.

"A few months ago, Andrea Pirlo, an icon of world football, began a new adventure on the Juventus bench, 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 many difficulties, with the world forced by the pandemic to reinvent its own rules day after day. Andrea did it too: he started (and we are sure of this: his will be a brilliant career as a coach) a journey of transformation, seeking, and often managing, to bring his ideas and his experience as a champion on the pitch from 'Other side' of the barricade.

"And since in football what counts are the victories that are put on the bulletin board, let's remember: in a few months his Juve has raised two trophies and brought home brilliant victories on the most prestigious fields, from San Siro to Camp Nou.

"For all this, for the courage, the dedication, the passion with which he faced every day, for the successes obtained, our thanks really comes from the heart.

"As well as our good luck for a future that will surely be beautiful.'

Juventus are now on the hunt for a new manager with Allegri the frontrunner to replace Pirlo.

Allegri has been out of work since leaving the Turin giants back in 2019, though his time at the club represented one of the most fruitful periods in their history - domestically at least - as he led them to five consecutive Scudettos and four Coppa Italia crowns.