ROME, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Juventus fired head coach Thiago Motta on Sunday after a string of poor performances, replacing him with former player Igor Tudor.

Former Italy international Motta joined Juventus from Bologna last summer and led the team to a strong start to the season. However, Juventus struggled with inconsistency and was eliminated early from both the Champions League and Coppa Italia.

After consecutive heavy defeats to Atalanta and Fiorentina, in which the team conceded seven goals and failed to score, Juventus dropped to fifth in the Serie A standings, putting its Champions League qualification hopes at risk. The club decided to part ways with Motta as a result.

"The club would like to thank Thiago Motta and all of his staff for their professionalism and for the work they have carried out in recent months with passion and dedication. The club wishes them the best of luck for the future," Juventus said in a statement.

Tudor, a Croatian who spent several years at Juventus as a player, moved into coaching after retirement, with stints at Udinese, Lazio and other clubs. He previously served as an assistant coach for Juventus under Andrea Pirlo during the 2020-21 season.

The 46-year-old has reportedly signed a contract through the end of the season. According to multiple Italian outlets, the deal could be extended if Juventus qualifies for the Champions League. Enditem

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