Maurizio Sarri was only in charge at Juventus for one season. Reuters
Maurizio Sarri was only in charge at Juventus for one season. Reuters
Maurizio Sarri was only in charge at Juventus for one season. Reuters
Maurizio Sarri was only in charge at Juventus for one season. Reuters

Maurizio Sarri sacked by Juventus after Champions League exit, with Andrea Pirlo to be named next manager


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Maurizio Sarri was sacked by Juventus on Saturday, one day after the Italian club were eliminated from the Champions League last 16 by Lyon.

Despite Cristiano Ronaldo's double in a home 2-1 win on Friday, Juve fell 2-2 on aggregate to the French club, ending their quest for a title they last won in 1996.

It is the first time since 2015/16 that Juve have failed to at least reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

"Maurizio Sarri has been relieved of his post as coach of the first team," the nine-time reigning Serie A champions said in a statement.

Sarri, 61, replaced Massimiliano Allegri last season, after leading Chelsea to success in the Europa League.

"The club would like to thank the coach for having written a new page in Juventus' history with the victory of the ninth consecutive championship, the culmination of a personal journey that led him to climb all the divisions of Italian football," the statement said.

Andrea Pirlo, the former Juventus, AC Milan and Italy midfielder, is expected to be named the club's new manager, according to Italian media reports.

Pirlo was appointed the Juventus Under-23 manager on July 30, but the exit of Sarri looks set to elevate 41-year-old to the first team dugout. It will be Pirlo's first managerial position.

Despite leading Juve to a ninth straight Scudetto, his first as a manager, Sarri paid for the club's failure on the European stage.

Juve also lost in two finals this season, the Italian Cup – where they were beaten on penalties by Napoli – and the Italian Super Cup, courtesy of an emphatic 3-1 victory for Lazio in Riyadh.

Although victorious in Serie A, Juventus were at their least convincing under Sarri, accumulating their lowest points total of any of the nine successive titles.

Hired on the basis of his trademark "Sarriball" that made Napoli one of the most exciting teams in Europe during his three seasons in Naples, Sarri's Juve failed to fully convince.

For a team famed for its defence, Juventus conceded 43 league goals, while a manager with a reputation for attacking football saw his side end the season as only the fifth-most prolific team in Serie A, despite being able to call on the services of the world's best striker in Ronaldo.

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Juventus 2 Lyon 1 in pictures

  • Ronaldo scored twice but Juventus were still knocked out of the Champions League by Lyon. AP
    Ronaldo scored twice but Juventus were still knocked out of the Champions League by Lyon. AP
  • Adrien Rabiot Juventus are knocked out. AFP
    Adrien Rabiot Juventus are knocked out. AFP
  • Supporters celebrate in Lyon after their team qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League. AFP
    Supporters celebrate in Lyon after their team qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League. AFP
  • Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri during thegame. EPA
    Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri during thegame. EPA
  • Lyon's Dutch forward Memphis Depay celebrates after scoring. AFP
    Lyon's Dutch forward Memphis Depay celebrates after scoring. AFP
  • Cristiano Ronaldo during the match. Getty
    Cristiano Ronaldo during the match. Getty
  • Cristiano Ronaldo (L) scores the 1-1 equaliser from the penalty spot. EPA
    Cristiano Ronaldo (L) scores the 1-1 equaliser from the penalty spot. EPA
  • Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his sides' opening goal. AP
    Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his sides' opening goal. AP
  • Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the second for Juventus. EPA
    Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring the second for Juventus. EPA
  • Cristiano Ronaldo was frustrated despite his two goals. EPA
    Cristiano Ronaldo was frustrated despite his two goals. EPA
  • Ronaldo during the Champions League round of 16 second leg against Lyon. PA
    Ronaldo during the Champions League round of 16 second leg against Lyon. PA

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The writing was on the wall for Sarri on Friday after Juve president Andrea Agnelli expressed his disappointment at his club's underperformance in the Champions League.

"This season's balance is bittersweet, we had a great result winning the ninth championship, but the performance in the Champions League has been disappointing for everyone," he said.

"The Champions League is not a dream, it's an objective. We need to be disappointed to exit the competition like this, we will take a few days to evaluate how to restart with fresh enthusiasm.

"We have a few goals that need to be met, both domestically and internationally. We will need to make a few evaluations to understand how to start the next season with the will to work and win on any pitch."

Lazio manager Simone Inzaghi is the favourite to fill the vacancy, while Mauricio Pochettino, who has been out of work since being sacked by Tottenham Hotspur in November last year, has also been linked with the role.

match info

Athletic Bilbao 1 (Muniain 37')

Atletico Madrid 1 (Costa 39')

Man of the match  Iker Muniain (Athletic Bilbao)

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PRO BASH

Thursday’s fixtures

6pm: Hyderabad Nawabs v Pakhtoon Warriors

10pm: Lahore Sikandars v Pakhtoon Blasters

Teams

Chennai Knights, Lahore Sikandars, Pakhtoon Blasters, Abu Dhabi Stars, Abu Dhabi Dragons, Pakhtoon Warriors and Hyderabad Nawabs.

Squad rules

All teams consist of 15-player squads that include those contracted in the diamond (3), platinum (2) and gold (2) categories, plus eight free to sign team members.

Tournament rules

The matches are of 25 over-a-side with an 8-over power play in which only two fielders allowed outside the 30-yard circle. Teams play in a single round robin league followed by the semi-finals and final. The league toppers will feature in the semi-final eliminator.

Dubai Rugby Sevens

November 30, December 1-2
International Vets
Christina Noble Children’s Foundation fixtures

Thursday, November 30:

10.20am, Pitch 3, v 100 World Legends Project
1.20pm, Pitch 4, v Malta Marauders

Friday, December 1:

9am, Pitch 4, v SBA Pirates

England squad

Goalkeepers: Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope, Aaron Ramsdale 

Defenders: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Conor Coady, Marc Guehi, Reece James, Harry Maguire, Tyrone Mings, Luke Shaw, John Stones, Ben White

Midfielders: Jude Bellingham, Conor Gallagher, Mason Mount, Jordan Henderson, Declan Rice, James Ward-Prowse

Forwards: Tammy Abraham, Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, Harry Kane, Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Raheem Sterling