By David Awopetu
Andrea Pirlo has returned to Juventus to take over as the coach of their under-23 side, the Serie A champions have announced.
After leaving the Old Lady in 2015, the former midfield maestro has returned to coach the Serie A champions’ reserve side.
The job will be Pirlo’s first in management, and it comes three years after he retired following a stint in MLS with New York City FC.
The 2006 World Cup winner, six-time Serie A winner and two-time Champions League winner will take the helm of Juve’s U-23s, a team that is just two years old and has already had two managers in its brief existence.
It won the Coppa Italia Serie C this past season and competes in the third tier of Italian football.
It most recently had a 10th-place finish in the 20-team division.
“A new adventure for Andrea Pirlo and Juventus begins today,” the club wrote in a press release.
“After five years, we work together again. Andrea is in fact the new coach of the Under-23 team.
“A challenge is upon us, for a return that can only please. Welcome back, coach Pirlo!”
