Deschamps Rules Himself Out Of Juve Job

By Max Wise

France manager Didier Deschamps has ruled himself out for the Juventus managerial post after he was linked with the role.

Juventus are on the market for a new man in the dugouts after Massimiliano Allegri brought his successful five-year spell at the club to a close last week.

Deschamps’ name has popped up in the Italian media as one of the likely candidates to take over at the Allianz Stadium, but the Frenchman, who played for Juventus between 1994 and 1999, says he is solely focused on the France national team ahead of their EURO 2020 qualifiers against Turkey and Andorra next month.

"It's a kind question... What am I going to say?" Deschamps told reporters when quizzed about reports linking him to the Old Lady.

"The situation is clear today: my mind, my energy is focused on qualifying for the Euros, and I hope France will play in that Euros.

"It's very clear, even if it's always nice to hear that big clubs are talking about me, and Juventus are among them.

"But my near future is the French team. There are no doors to open - it's crystal clear."

Deschamps, who led France to World Cup glory in Russia last year, spent a season in charge of Juventus in the 2006/2007 season, when the Bianconeri were demoted to the second tier of Italian football following the Calciopoli scandal, and quickly returned them to the top flight just a season later.