Turin, Italy (SportsNetwork.com) - Juventus named Massimiliano Allegri as the club's new manager on Wednesday, 24 hours after the resignation of Antonio Conte.
Allegri joins Juventus on a two-year contract after being relieved of his managerial duties by AC Milan in February, and he will have big shoes to fill after Conte guided Juve to three successive Serie A titles.
"It was a bolt from the blue when I got the call yesterday asking if I wanted to coach Juve," Allegri said. "I'm delighted. I know how important it is to coach Juventus, a club with history and tradition. Now I'm here to try to contribute to this club continuing winning."
Conte's resignation came as a surprise, but Juventus director of sport, Beppe Marotta, feels as though the 46-year-old Allegri has the qualities necessary to replace a winning manager.
"We tried all we could to keep a firm grip on Conte because we felt, and we still feel, he's a winning coach and one who has contributed in a great way to our objectives," Marotta said.
"His replacement had to be a coach with the same characteristics as Conte -- a winner with great motivation and great ideas of football -- and we agreed without any shadow of a doubt that we found these in Allegri."
