Thiago Motta, former Bologna player and now manager, saw his career take an unexpected turn when Juventus severed their relationship with him in March last year. The Italian-Brazilian coach, who began his coaching career with Paris Saint-Germain's Under-19s, was then called by Genoa in 2019, but was fired after just two wins in ten games. After a period of inactivity of a year and a half, Motta returned to the pitch with Spezia, contributing to the team's salvation in Serie A, and was subsequently hired by Bologna, where he guided the club to ninth place and then led the team to the Champions League after 60 years of absence.
His adventure in black and white, however, was short. Motta was fired by Juventus after two heavy defeats, 4‑0 against Atalanta and 3‑0 in Florence, with the team in fifth place. The contract was terminated at the end of October, leaving open the possibility that Motta could seek new challenges abroad. So far he has refused or failed to reach an agreement with several teams, including Fiorentina, Atalanta, Real Sociedad, Benfica and Lille.
French club Lyon, who recently left Paulo Fonseca to coach Sporting CP, could be Motta's next stop. Lyon is currently in a phase of corporate restructuring following Textor's management problems and aims to strengthen its team with a high-profile coach. Motta, who has shown his ability to lead struggling teams, could see Lyon as an opportunity to rebuild his reputation and challenge for the Champions League again, with the team sitting just three points behind leaders PSG.
Motta's future remains uncertain, but his willingness to start again abroad is clear. If Lyon manages to offer the necessary guarantees, the coach could find a new environment where he can demonstrate that his experience with Juventus was an isolated episode. In any case, the attention of the media and fans remains focused on Motta's next move, which could mark a new chapter in his coaching career.