This archive report was first published on 8 August 2020.
On August 8, 2020, Italian football giants Juventus made a shocking decision to sack Maurizio Sarri as their manager, just one season into his three-year contract.
Sarri, a 61-year-old Italian, had taken over the reins at Juventus in June 2019, succeeding Massimiliano Allegri. Despite his short tenure, he managed to guide the team to a ninth consecutive Serie A title, a remarkable achievement.
However, Juventus' Champions League campaign was cut short when they were knocked out by Lyon at the last-16 stage. The French side progressed on away goals, despite Juve winning 2-1 in Turin.
The team's inconsistent form in the league was another reason for the club's decision to sack Sarri. They lost three of their last four league matches, finishing only one point clear of Inter Milan in the end.
Juventus' Coppa Italia final defeat to Napoli after the coronavirus shutdown was another setback for the team.
Despite their two-time European Cup/Champions League wins, Juventus have not lifted the trophy since 1996.
A club statement thanked Sarri for his contributions, saying he had
