By Olukayode Olumuyiwa.
Atalanta’s turbulent season took another dramatic turn on Monday when the club dismissed head coach Ivan Juric and his entire backroom staff, less than 24 hours after a humiliating 3-0 home defeat to promoted Sassuolo. The decision, which ends Juric’s five-month stint after just 15 games, was accelerated by a heated touchline confrontation with star forward Ademola Lookman during midweek Champions League action.
Juric, who replaced club icon Gian Piero Gasperini in June, leaves Atalanta in 13th place in Serie A following 11 matches – with only two wins, three draws and six losses. The Nerazzurri’s woes culminated in Sunday’s rout at the Gewiss Stadium, where Sassuolo’s Domenico Berardi converted a penalty before adding a second, exposing defensive frailties in a performance that prompted widespread fan frustration. It marked Atalanta’s eighth consecutive league game without a victory, leaving them 11 points adrift of leaders Inter Milan.
The final nail came amid simmering tensions in the dressing room. Just days earlier, Atalanta secured a 1-0 win over Marseille in the Champions League, but the result was overshadowed by Juric’s public spat with Lookman. The 28-year-old Nigerian, last season’s Europa League hero with a final hat-trick, was substituted in the 75th minute after a disallowed goal left him visibly agitated. As he trudged off, Juric grabbed his arm in an attempt to de-escalate, but the exchange escalated, requiring staff intervention. Lookman, who has struggled for form with one league goal this term, responded by deleting all Atalanta content from his social media and unfollowing the club – echoing his summer protest when a €50 million transfer to Inter Milan was blocked.
Juric attempted to downplay the incident ahead of the Sassuolo clash. “These moments happen in the heat of passion,” he told Sky Sport. “Ademola and I have spoken; it’s behind us and makes the group stronger.” Yet reports suggested the club had issued an ultimatum: success in the Marseille and Sassuolo games would dictate his future. The Marseille victory offered brief respite, but Sunday’s collapse rendered it moot.
In a concise statement, Atalanta confirmed: “Ivan Juric has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the first team, along with closest staff members Matteo Paro, Miguel Veloso, Paolo Barbero, Stjepan Ostojic, and Michele Orecchio. The club thanks them for their efforts and wishes them the best.” It’s the fourth managerial change in Serie A this season and a stark reminder of the pressure on Juric, whose previous roles at Roma (sacked exactly one year ago) and Southampton were equally short-lived.
Attention now turns to a successor, with former Monza and Fiorentina coach Raffaele Palladino emerging as the frontrunner. Other names in the frame include Thiago Motta and Roberto Mancini, both aligned with Gasperini’s high-pressing philosophy. Palladino could take charge for the trip to champions Napoli on November 22, following the international break.
For Lookman, whose contract runs until 2026, the upheaval raises questions about his long-term future. Linked with Tottenham and others, the 2024 African Player of the Year has been pivotal to Atalanta’s recent successes, including last season’s third-place finish. Reviving his partnership with Gianluca Scamacca and Teun Koopmeiners will be key to any turnaround, especially with Atalanta 16th in the Champions League group stage on seven points from four games.
In Bergamo, where Gasperini transformed modest means into continental contention, Juric’s exit underscores the unforgiving nature of elite football. As Atalanta plot a path back to prominence, the coming weeks will test whether a new voice can heal divides and restore the fire that once defined them.
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