In his first press conference as Juventus manager, Igor Tudor revealed that midfielder Manuel Locatelli will serve as the team’s new captain going forward. Tudor, who took over as head coach on Sunday after Thiago Motta’s dismissal, stated he will also select “two or three” other players to take on leadership roles when Locatelli is unavailable.

The Croatian manager began working with the squad on Monday and welcomed back international players on Wednesday before addressing the media on Thursday. Tudor discussed various topics, including his plans for key players like Dusan Vlahovic, Teun Koopmeiners and Kenan Yildiz, as well as details about his contract which currently runs through the 2024-25 season.

Tudor’s decision to name a clear captain addresses criticism faced by his predecessor Motta, who rotated the captaincy among several players. Some felt this approach undermined continuity and hierarchy within the team.

Regarding the captaincy, Tudor stated: “Everyone must take responsibility. Locatelli will be the captain. We will designate two or three others in the coming days. The players just returned yesterday. Manuel is an upstanding, respectable person. He has the right qualities for the role.”

By establishing Locatelli as the primary captain while naming additional leaders, Tudor aims to create a clear leadership structure while still fostering shared responsibility among the squad as he begins his tenure at Juventus.