Juventus have sacked head coach Maurizio Sarri with immediate effect following the club’s disappointing Champions League last-16 exit at the hands of Lyon.
The credit was all Cristiano Ronaldo’s as he scored twice for the Bianconeri in a 2-1 win over French side Lyon in Turin on Friday night, but that result ultimately was not enough to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit as Memphis Depay’s early penalty ensured the visitors went through to the quarter-finals on away goals.
Juventus subsequently reacted swiftly to that surprise elimination by moving to dismiss manager Sarri less than 24 hours later.
The 61-year-old originally left Chelsea after only one year to take charge at the Allianz Stadium on a three-year contract in June 2019 and guided Juve to a record ninth consecutive Serie A title, with his side finishing a point clear of Antonio Conte’s Inter Milan.
However, the club lost to Napoli on penalties in the final of the Coppa Italia as well as making an early exit from the Champions League, with speculation over Sarri’s future circulating constantly over recent weeks.