'Problem resolver' Igor Tudor looks to be the right coach at the right time for Juventus

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'Problem resolver' Igor Tudor looks to be the right coach at the right time for Juventus

2025-03-27 23:31 Last Updated At：23:41

MILAN (AP) — Igor Tudor could be exactly the coach Juventus needs and at exactly the right time.

Tudor accepted the job last weekend, replacing Thiago Motta with the storied Italian club in disarray and discord.

Juventus is out of all competitions, having been eliminated from the Champions League and the Italian Cup. In Serie A, its faint chance of challenging for the title has evaporated after conceding seven goals and scoring none in its last two matches — 4-0 and 3-0 losses to Atalanta and Fiorentina.

That has left a shellshocked Juventus in fifth place and at risk of not qualifying for the Champions League next season. Motta also reportedly lost the support of key players.

Enter Tudor.

The 46-year-old has a reputation for being a fixer, coming into clubs during the season and turning things around — having done that at Udinese (twice), Hellas Verona and Lazio.

Tudor also has a reputation as a no-nonsense coach, who can handle difficult players and who will follow his own beliefs rather than toe the line to appease club bosses.

He left Marseille and Lazio after falling out with the hierarchy.

“Am I someone who resolves problems? I consider myself a coach,” Tudor said in a news conference on Thursday. “I started coaching young and I’ve been doing it for 10-15 years, I have gone around a lot, I can also be a bit particular because I make choices with my heart.

“I continue if I feel it is right. If not, I go home regardless of my contract. I live in the present. I want to be here for 10 years but I will do my work in the same way. We can’t control what happens in the future.”

Tudor has been given a contract until the end of June, taking him through to the end of the domestic season and the Club World Cup in the United States. His contract will reportedly be automatically renewed for another year if Juventus qualifies for the Champions League.

Juventus is one point below fourth-placed Bologna and Tudor’s first match in charge will be on Saturday, at home to Genoa.

“I believe a lot in this team because it has quality players and a great desire to improve,” Tudor said. “We know that we are going through a difficult period and that there has been little time to work on changes, but there are no excuses in life and I have never looked for them.”

Tudor knows Juventus well, having spent almost a decade as a player at the club, and then returning as an assistant coach to Andrea Pirlo in 2020-21. Pirlo and Tudor were fired at the end of that season.

The Croatian tactician is very much aware of the demands of the record 36-time Serie A champion.

“At Juve I learnt a lot, both as a player and as assistant coach,” Tudor said. “This club has a unique work culture. I’ve told the lads about some moments I experienced here as a youngster … what makes up Juve: Respect, discipline, sacrifice and the will to win.

“Over the years I have been involved with many teams and I have never seen a mentality like the one I found here. At Juve, hard work comes first and every choice is made with great care. This spirit must be our starting point.”

One of the many stars Tudor played with at Juventus was Lilian Thuram, who was his Bianconeri teammate for five seasons.

One of Thuram’s sons, Khéphren Thuram, plays for Juventus.

“I spoke to Lilian yesterday and he told me that if Khéphren does something wrong, I have to immediately give him a smack,” Tudor said with a laugh.

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Auburn star Johni Broome leaves March Madness game with arm injury, returns to huge roar

2025-03-31 09:08 Last Updated At：09:11

ATLANTA (AP) — Auburn star Johni Broome left the court with his right arm dangling by his side, looking very much like he might be done at the NCAA Tournament.

Not to worry.

Broome, an Associated Press All-American, returned to help finish off Auburn's run to the Final Four, leading the top-seeded Tigers to a 70-64 victory over Michigan State on Sunday.

Broome finished the South Region final with 25 points, 14 rebounds and a thick wrapping on his ailing elbow.

“I didn't get any diagnosis,” coach Bruce Pearl said. “When Johni came out of the locker room, I had not talked to the doctor. I just said, ‘Are you good to go?’ He said, ‘I am,' so I said, ‘Get your (butt) in there.’”

Broome, the top-seeded Tigers’ leading scorer and rebounder, exited after he leaped above the rim attempting to block a drive to the basket by Frankie Fidler of Michigan State.

Fidler missed the shot, and Broome's elbow bent at an ugly angle when he put down his right hand, trying to brace his fall.

Broome stayed down on the court, grimacing and holding his elbow, while a Spartans trainer signaled hurriedly for the Auburn staff at the other end to check on the player.

The 6-foot-10 senior forward untucked his shirt heading off the court and went to the locker room with 10:37 left in the second half and the Tigers leading 50-40.

The AP's Southeastern Conference player of the year, Broome returned with 5:39 left and Auburn still holding a 10-point edge, drawing a huge roar from the pro-Tigers crowd at State Farm Arena.

The crowd really erupted when he swished a 3-pointer to make it 60-48.

“All the glory to God for allowing me to be healthy,” Broome said. “We have a great support staff. They checked the arm out and doc said, 'There’s nothing wrong. You're good.' At that moment, I just wanted to help my teammates. If it was coming back out and playing, hitting my shots and grabbing rebounds, I was going to do it.”

Pearl said he should know more Monday about Broome's status for the Final Four, though it certainly appears he will be ready to go. The coach described the injury as “maybe a slight hyperextension.”

“Obviously, the doctor checked it out and said it was OK,” Pearl said, before adding, “I bet he'll be pretty sore tomorrow, though.”

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