Photo by Emmanuele Ciancaglini/Juventus FC via Getty Images

A midweek surprise that nobody saw coming. So much for the notion that Joe Montemurro signing a contract extension through 2026 meant that he was going to be Juventus Women?s manager for the long term.
No less than six months after Montemurro put his signature on a new deal amidst rumors that he was a top candidate to take over the United States women?s national team, the Australian-Italian tactician who led the Bianconere to new heights in Europe is out.
Juventus announced the move Wednesday morning, with the 54-year-old Montemurro having reached an agreement to end his tenure as manager despite the long-term contract in hand. With poor results and performances mounting both in the league and most recently in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semifinals against Fiorentina, the struggles proved to be too much for Montemurro to bank on his long-term contract being the thing that kept him at the helm. Giuseppe Zappella, who has served as Montemurro?s top assistant, has been named interim manager for the rest of the 2023-24 season ? which is about to head into its second phase (championship and relegation) later this month.
In a corresponding move that certainly points to who Juve chose to actually stick with for the long term, Juventus Women director Stefano Braghin signed a contract extension through 2027, it was also announced Wednesday.

?? Incredibile! La #JuventusWomen si separa da Joe #...