Official: Juventus announce Maurizio Sarri as new head coach

Chelsea’s Sarri-ball revolution is now well and truly over, and probably before it even got a chance to properly start.

Maurizio Sarri has today been released from duty at Chelsea to join Juventus, where he’s signed a three-year contract and will look to continue their domination of Italian football while maintaining their European ambitions as well.

This time twelve months ago, Sarri was still Napoli’s head coach, which will create some awkward moments for the Neapolitan fans — though not nearly as conflicting as some Internazionale and Juventus fans are dealing with in the wake of Juventus legend Antonio Conte’s appointment at Inter. Sarri vs. Conte will also certainly make for an interesting wrinkle in that traditional rivalry.

Sarri becomes the first full-time (i.e. non-interim) Chelsea head coach in a long, long time to leave of his own accord, though some might argue that he was still essentially sacked by his results, his football, his homesickness, or his relationship with a good portion of the fanbase. Choose your own explanation.

And so, another coaching change for Chelsea. We should be used to these by now. Who’s next?

Good luck back in Italy, Maurizio. While the initial reaction has not proven overwhelmingly positive, others are expecting him to revolutionize the entire nation’s football.

“Sarri is a Coach who proved he can give his teams a specific identity. The world is moving fast and I think Sarri going to Juventus would be an important turning point in our football.

-Arrigo Sacchi; source: Corriere dello Sport via Football Italia