Massimiliano Allegri recently stepped down as the head coach of Juventus after guiding the club to its eight successive Scudetto. While the Italian tactician will depart as one of the greatest managers to have graced the Bianconeri, the club hierarchy now face an uphill task in replacing him with an equally well-adept steward who can keep up the good work.
Juventus signed Cristiano Ronaldo with a vision of winning the Champions League this season but lost out to a young and vibrant Ajax side in the quarter-finals. Allegri's successor will have enough pressure on his shoulders knowing how hell-bent the club is on clinching European glory.
The task of winning a Champions League is no mean feat, and Juve needs to make sure they appoint the right man for the job.
On that note, here are 5 coaches the club can look at to fulfil their long-sought dream of becoming European champions next season.
#5 Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho needs no special introduction when it comes to his feats in football, does he? The Portuguese mastermind has had stints with a bunch of European heavyweights like Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United and is no newbie when it comes to handling the pressure of expectations at a big club.
Given Mourinho's vast experience at the pinnacle of European football and his Champions League exploits with Porto and Inter Milan, the Special One deserves to land the job at Juventus. However, his recent tarnished history of falling out with officials at Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United might be an obstacle in his quest to land the job at Turin.
Mourinho's short tenures at various clubs are far from presenting him as a long-term option to the Old Lady.
#4 Pep Guardiola
Next up is Jose Mourinho's nemesis and long-term arch-rival, Pep Guardiola. Much like the Special One, the Spaniard has an impressive bunch of names in the 'clubs managed' section on his resume, having had stints at Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
Currently masterminding Manchester City, Guardiola has done a commendable job in transforming the Citizens into one of the most feared teams in world football. The former Barcelona legend guided City to a historic domestic treble this season, which included clinching a second consecutive Premier League title in three years at the club.
Pep Guardiola is known as a strict disciplinarian, a proven winner, and above all, a coach who wants his team to play all-out attack and score as many games as possible. Italy would be a new challenge for the Spaniard, but the Juve hierarchy can easily trust Guardiola to complete their mission, given his experience at the highest level and his attractive brand of attacking the football.
#3 Jurgen Klopp
Jurgen Klopp has garnered rave reviews for his work at Liverpool in the past two years. The German manager has transformed Liverpool into new-age champions and it seems to be just a matter of time before the Merseysiders clinch their first-ever Premier League title under his tutelage.
The former Borussia Dortmund man has toiled hard since 2015 at Anfield and is finally reaping the fruits now. He has guided Liverpool to Champions League finals twice in succession, having also achieved the feat once with Dortmund in 2013.
Klopp also lost the Premier League title race by whiskers, finishing just a point behind Manchester City after offering a tough fight throughout the year.
Whether Klopp would agree to join Juventus is something only time can tell, but there's no shadow of a doubt that he is one of the deserving candidates for the job in Turin.
#2 Mauricio Pochettino
Mauricio Pochettino is a magician, period. The Argentine mastermind has pulled out all the stops, broken all the barriers and fought Europe's strongest teams to guide Tottenham amongst the highest echelons of the sport.
What's most impressive about Poch is the fact that he has guided the Lillywhites to a Champions League final in spite of having no financial backing and a squad that is miles behind when it comes to depth and quality.
Pochettino is the best candidate amongst all for the job, given the fact that he is capable of handling long-term projects and has a knack of producing the best output with available resources. If he can do wonders with a squad like Tottenham, just imagine how good would he be with one of the best squads under his command and a hierarchy who would give him the required money to strengthen his team.
However, Juventus will have no easy time convincing Daniel Levy, the chairman of Tottenham, of parting ways with his manager. However, there's no doubt a deal could be struck as Pochettino himself seems intent on taking up a new challenge.
#1 Maurizio Sarri
Maurizio Sarri is being heavily linked with a return to Italy, albeit with Juventus. The Italian steward has no silverware to showcase in his CV, but when it comes to the brand of football he offers, few can make up their minds to deny him.
Sarri has had only a year at Chelsea, one that was a mixture of joys and sorrows. The Blues started the season in great form but gradually started losing it as the season progressed. Amidst all the conundrum, Sarri was blamed for not being innovative enough and sticking to his philosophy. However, 'Sarrismo' has helped Chelsea book a Europa League final berth and secure Champions League qualification for the next season.
Given the fact that the Italian has ample of experience managing clubs in his home country, he won't require time to settle down and adjust with the playing style in the Serie A. However, it remains to be seen if Chelsea let go of their manager after just a season in charge.
