The Candidates to Replace Maurizio Sarri as Juventus Boss - Ranked

Hands up, who saw this coming?

The messages filtering out of Turin on Friday evening were pretty ambiguous, with club president Andrea Agnelli suggesting the Juventus hierarchy would require a few days to assess the last 12 months, and to lay the foundations for the coming year.

Maybe we should have taken the president's decision to speak at all as a sign of things to come.

Maurizio Sarri's reign as the Bianconeri boss lasted little over 12 months. Despite delivering a league title in his debut campaign, failure to overcome Lyon in the Champions League Round of 16 proved to be a sin too grave to forgive.

It certainly hasn't been a stellar year of champagne football and a shower of trophies, but can all the blame be laid at the feet of their Italian mister? Almost definitely not. What we do know is, it's game over for Sarri, and Juve are now on the hunt for a new guru to deliver this elusive Champions League glory.

Whichever man falls between their crosshairs has one hell of a job before him. But which coaches are the Juve board sizing up, and how suitable are they for the task in hand?

8. Roberto De Zerbi

The joker in the pack. While most supporters will be begging for a monster appointment in the dugout, the club may glance further down the table and ponder the vertical trajectory of Roberto De Zerbi's impressive managerial career. The Italian coach took charge of Sassuolo two years ago, and in that time he has turned I Neroverdi into the best of the rest, finishing eighth in the table behind Serie A's usual suspects.

Could he continue Juve's assault as the cream of the crop, though? He's a man with a plan, and it's an attractive one, at that. Sassuolo play some of the most forward-thinking, entertaining football in Europe, and if he can get I Bianconeri's superstars onside, then it could be a devastating marriage.

Marriages often end up in divorce though, and there are no guarantees that De Zerbi would be given the time he requires to build an empire. How's your nerve, Agnelli?

'Good Fit' Rating: 5/10

7. Massimiliano Allegri

There is an expression in Italian regarding Minestra riscaldata (reheated soup), which basically warns of the perils of returning to a former lover, and its inevitable heartbreak. It's just not quite the same, second time round. Massimiliano Allegri will be well aware of this old adage, and having been chased out of Turin for his pragmatic (albeit very successful) style of football, he might think twice about falling back into the trap.

Stranger things have happened though, and with hindsight enhancing his reputation even further, Juve might come crawling back to the Italian. It'll be up to Allegri whether he falls for those familiar words all over again, though.

'Good Fit' Rating: 5.5/10

6. Antonio Conte

Now, this would be box office stuff. Once hated by Italian giants Inter, Antonio Conte made the fateful trip from Turin to Milan, becoming I Nerazzurri's head coach in 2019. Having previously cut plenty of ties within the Juventus camp by committing this dirty deed, could the ex-Bianconeri legend now be set for a sensational return, tail between legs?

That's not really his style, is it? Conte's frustrations at Inter have been clear as day over the past few weeks, and he has been tipped to make a shock departure of his own from San Siro. Tempers have cooled since his explosive interview at the end of the domestic campaign, but tensions remain high.

This move could make the ex-Chelsea boss the most unpopular man in Italy - but since when has that stopped him from doing what he wants? He's a born winner.

'Good Fit' Rating: 6/10

5. Andrea Pirlo

Surely not. Well, it may be bonkers, but it doesn't mean that Juventus aren't considering it. In fact, zany and Serie A go hand in hand. Andrea Pirlo must have thought he'd won the lottery when he was offered the job as Juve's Under-23 coach at the start of August, despite having zero experience in the technical area.

And him being promoted to head coach of the senior side would be the equivalent of winning the Euromillions - twice. President Agnelli is rumoured to be mulling over this romantic alternative, but with the club's domination and dynasty possibly hanging in the balance, that could be a step too far outside the box.

Gianluigi Buffon as assistant coach? Now we're getting silly.

'Good Fit' Rating: 6.5/10

4. Pep Guardiola

A man who can win you everything - and has. Although, the one cloud which follows Pep Guardiola is his poor record in the Champions League. The Spanish wizard has failed to lift the big European trophy since his days as Barcelona coach, and given that this is Juve's main priority, it could be a large sticking point.

Guardiola is still one of the very, very best in the game, and if the opportunity arose to snatch him from Manchester City, I Bianconeri would do it in a heartbeat. With only a year remaining on his current deal, Guardiola could be ready for a new adventure. Here we go again.

'Good Fit' Rating: 8/10

3. Simone Inzaghi

Undoubtedly one of the most exciting and dynamic coaches in Italy at the moment, Simone Inzaghi deserves a crack at the big time. The Lazio boss has worked wonders in Rome, transforming le Aquile from Europa League strugglers into title contenders in only four years.

Inzaghi has shown his ability to improve the players at his disposal, without demanding big-money transfers and marquee signings in the market - and that trust between player and coach would be invaluable to Juve.

Whether I Bianconeri are planning a squad overhaul in the summer or not, the Lazio man would squeeze every possible drop out of this current group of underachievers.

'Good Fit' Rating: 8/10

2. Mauricio Pochettino

Tottenham Hotspur supporters think he's magic, you know, and the man challenged with pulling the Champions League rabbit out of the hat could be Mauricio Pochettino. Links between the Argentine and Europe's elite have been non-stop since Spurs made him disappear, and he has all the credentials to turn that potential into trophies.

He's already reached one Champions League final in his time as a top coach, and there are no doubts he could replicate that feat with a much stronger squad. Pochettino has been holding out for the dream job since leaving North London, and Turin might just be the perfect destination.

'Good Fit' Rating: 8.5/10

1. Zinedine Zidane

An exciting rumour we should all get behind. A Juventus legend on the field, Zinedine Zidane has already led one of his former clubs to glory from the touchline, bagging three Champions League trophies and a league title in his first stint as Real Madrid boss - before returning to deliver another La Liga success in round two.

Could that be 'mission accomplished', then? The Frenchman stunned Madrid fans by walking out after completing an unprecedented European treble in 2018, and the prospect of carrying Juve over the Champions League line for the first time since 1996 could prove too good to turn down.

A man known for taming big egos, and keeping Cristiano Ronaldo happy, there might not be a better fit than this romantic reunion.

'Good Fit' Rating: 10/10