Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus Agree on New Contract: Latest Details, Reaction

Juventus have agreed to a new contract with manager Massimiliano Allegri, keeping the Italian at the club until 30 June 2018.

The club announced the news on Friday.

The former AC Milan boss was linked with Manchester United and Chelsea earlier this season, per the Daily Mirror’s John Cross. The Blues eventually opted for compatriot Antonio Conte.

Allegri guided the Bianconeri to their fifth straight Serie A title in the 2015-16 campaign, putting together one of the team’s finest runs in history after a poor start to the season. Juventus haven’t lost in the league since October of last year and have dropped points just once in 2016.

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While Conte laid the foundation for Juventus’ domestic dominance, Allegri has taken the team to new heights, guiding the side to the UEFA Champions League final last year. This season, they came within minutes of a major upset against Bayern Munich in the round of 16.

The 48-year-old was a risky and controversial appointment back in 2014, with hundreds of fans protesting his arrival, per Football Italia. But he quickly won over the Juventus faithful and the dressing room, bonding with star midfielder Paul Pogba in particular.

The two frequently engage in all kinds of competitions, including a recent basketball challenge:

Allegri won the Serie A title with Milan in the 2010-11 season, but the Rossoneri fell apart in the seasons that followed, and his time in the Italian fashion capital is remembered as a disappointment.

He’s been nothing but a success in Turin, however. He has used both Conte’s three-man back line and the 4-3-1-2 formation to devastating effects, and he has done a wonderful job nurturing young and incoming talent.

The likes of Alvaro Morata, Paulo Dybala and Daniele Rugani all needed time to adjust to their new surroundings, but Allegri worked them into the squad perfectly, per ESPN FC’s David Amoyal:

Allegri was never expected to leave Juventus this summer, but by locking him up to a new contract before the end of the season, the Bianconeri have already taken care of one major task ahead of the upcoming season.

The Old Lady’s next priority will be to keep hold of Pogba, Dybala and their other young stars, and the presence of Allegri can only help with that.