Former Juventus Coach Surfaces as a Top Candidate for Lazio Job | OneFootball

Lazio have already begun the casting for Maurizio Sarri’s successor, with Thiago Motta emerging as a serious candidate.

Maurizio Sarri to Join Napoli or Atalanta

Sarri’s departure is now considered a foregone conclusion, especially following his back-and-forth public spat with Claudio Lotito. The head coach will meet with the Lazio president in the coming days to agree on the contract termination.

The Tuscan manager has two offers on the table: One from his former employers, Napoli, and the other from Atalanta, where he would reunite with sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli, whom he had worked with in Naples.

Thiago Motta Emerges as Strong Candidate for Lazio Role

Therefore, Lazio are currently searching for their next coach, and almost all major sources in the Italian press have identified Motta as one of the frontrunners for the role. The 43-year-old rose to prominence after leading Bologna towards a historic Champions League qualification in 2024.

The Italo-Brazilian’s achievements at the Renato Dall’Ara earned him the Juventus job the following summer, but he only lasted eight months in Turin. He was sacked in March 2025 following a disastrous mid-season run and was replaced by Igor Tudor. Nevertheless, Motta remains tied to the Bianconeri with a contract valid until June 2027.

Raffaele Palladino Also in The Running for Lazio Job

In addition to Motta, the sources also agree on Raffaele Palladino’s candidacy. The Atalanta manager could be cast aside by Giuntoli once the latter takes over in Bergamo, so he should be available. However, the identity of the other candidates varies from one source to another.

Fabio Pisacane The Third Wheel?

Sky Sport Italia (via Gianlucadimarzio.com) and Il Corriere dello Sport both consider Cagliari’s Fabio Pisacane a strong contender. On the other hand, Il Messaggero believes that the 40-year-old remains an unlikely choice, as he was proposed by Lazio sporting director Angelo Fabiani, whom Lotito blames for Sarri’s appointment.

Therefore, Fabiani might no longer hold sway at Formello as he once did, and his future is also uncertain, with Hellas Verona director Sean Sogliano proposed as a replacement.

Lotito Not Keen on Sergio Conceicao & Matias Almeyda

Il Messaggero instead believes Sergio Conceicao could be in the running. Although he’s currently attached to Al-Ittihad, the source claims he has already expressed his openness to join Lazio. However, Il Corriere dello Sport notes that Lotito has been avoiding former Biancocelesti stars, so the chances of either the Portuguese or Matias Almeyda taking over remain slim.

Gennaro Gattuso & Fabio Grosso Low on Lazio List

Finally, Gennaro Gattuso remains a fallback option, while Sassuolo’s Fabio Grosso is a strong candidate for the Fiorentina hot seat, at least should the Tuscans part ways with Paolo Vanoli.