Maurizio Sarri has defied his sceptics by winning the first league title of his 30-year coaching career as Juventus extended their record r...
Maurizio Sarri has defied his sceptics by winning the first league title of his 30-year coaching career as Juventus extended their record run of Serie A title wins to nine in a row.
A 2-0 win at home against Sampdoria on Sunday sealed a 36th Scudetto for the Italian giants with two games to spare.
Although Sarri’s first season in Turin will be judged on the Champions League – Juventus trail Lyon 1-0 in a still-to-completed last-16 tie – it was an emotional achievement for the 61-year-old who led Chelsea to the Europa League trophy last season.
When Sarri swapped London for northern Italy to replace Massimiliano Allegri in June 2019, he declared: “I arrive with scepticism.”
He added: “I know only one way to change – that is to win and convince while entertaining and getting results.”
But “Sarrism” or “Sarriball”, that fast-paced, eye-catching style of football with which he made his name at Napoli, and which Juventus bosses craved in Turin, was only seen in flashes this season.
Juventus were rarely brilliant and often disappointing, losing in two finals, the Italian Cup and the Italian Super Cup.
Although Sarri gave the team orders, he adapted to Juve and five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who has scored 31 goals as he...
