Ex-Juventus Striker Raffaele Palladino Appointed Atalanta Manager

Former Juventus forward Raffaele Palladino has taken charge of Atalanta after Ivan Juric’s sacking. The 41-year-old, who previously managed Fiorentina, will debut against Napoli. Atalanta are 13th in Serie A and performing better than Juventus in the Champions League, registering two wins and a draw from four group-stage matches.

In the midst of a turbulent Serie A season, Juventus’ managerial situation has once again stirred headlines as former Fiorentina boss Raffaele Palladino takes charge of Atalanta. The 41-year-old, who previously played for Juventus, had held courtesy talks with the Bianconeri before they appointed Luciano Spalletti on a short-term deal. Despite being overlooked then, Palladino remains on Juventus’ radar as a future managerial prospect if he can deliver consistent results with Atalanta. 

Atalanta’s decision comes after the dismissal of Ivan Juric, who was sacked following a poor run of 11 matches, while Fiorentina also parted ways with Stefano Pioli after he failed to win any of his 10 games, leaving La Viola bottom of the table. Palladino, who led Fiorentina to a sixth-place finish and the Conference League semi-finals last season, returns to management aiming to revive Atalanta’s fortunes. 

The club currently sits 13th in Serie A, 11 points behind leaders Inter Milan and six behind Juventus. Palladino’s first test will be against Napoli after the international break, as he looks to build on Atalanta’s stronger Champions League form, where they have recorded two wins, one draw, and a loss, a stark contrast to Juventus’ winless European campaign so far.