Vincenzo Italiano has been appointed coach of Bologna on a two-year contract to replace Thiago Motta, the Serie A club announced on Wednesday.

Italiano, 46, has committed to the Emilia-Romagna club until June 30, 2026.

Motta led Bologna to a fifth-place finish to secure a berth in the Champions League for the first time.

The former Italy midfielder’s contract expired this month after two years at the club and he is widely reported to be replacing the sacked Massimiliano Allegri at Juventus.

Italiano has spent the last three seasons at Fiorentina leading them to seventh place in Serie A in 2021-22 and eighth in the past two campaigns.

Under his leadership the Tuscany side also played, and lost, three finals – the Italian Cup in 2023, and the Europa Conference League in 2023 and 2024.