Andrea Pirlo handed first managerial job as Sarri pays the price for Champions League elimination

Juventus have moved swiftly following their Champions League exit last night with the appointment of club legend Andrea Pirlo as manager in place of Maurizio Sarri.

The World Cup winner was just nine days into his first management role, with the club’s under-23s, when the decision was made to sack Sarri and promote Pirlo.

41-year-old Pirlo spent four years with the Bianconeri between 2011 and 2015, winning four Serie A titles after helping the Turin club to wrest the trophy back from former club AC Milan.

In his four years at the centre of the Juventus midfield, Pirlo won as many league titles, a Coppa Italia and two Italian Super Cups.

The Brescia native won a Serie B title with his hometown and lifted Serie A and the Champions League crowns twice while at Milan.

He scored 13 goals in 116 appearances for Italy and was named man of the match as the Azzurri beat Fance on the penalties in the 2006 World Cup final in Berlin.

“Today, begins a new chapter of his career in the world of football, as it was said almost a week ago: from Maestro to Mister,” read a club statement.

“From today he will be THE coach for people of Juventus, as the club has decided to entrust him with the technical leadership of the First Team, after having already selected him for Juventus Under 23.

“Today's choice is based on the belief that Pirlo has what it takes to lead from his debut on the bench, an expert and talented squad to pursue new successes.”

Pirlo replaces the former Chelsea boss Sarri, who was dismissed on Saturday morning despite leading the club to a record ninth successive scudetto.

Friday evening’s away goals defeat to Olympique Lyonnais proved the undoing of Sarri as the French team marched on to the quarter finals despite Juve winning 2-1 on the night.