Lichtsteiner backs Spalletti to restore Juventus & Pirlo to 'make Italy great again'
Quick summary
Former Juventus defender Stephan Lichtsteiner has expressed support for Luciano Spalletti's appointment at Juventus and suggested Andrea Pirlo could be a strong candidate for the Italy national team job.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceStephan Lichtsteiner has offered a ringing endorsement of Luciano Spalletti, backing his former club Juventus to return to the Champions League under the new coach.
The Switzerland great, now in charge of Basel, spoke in the mixed zone after his side’s pre-season friendly draw against the Bianconeri, and was unequivocal in his faith.
“From afar it’s very difficult to assess the situation or give advice, but Juventus have Luciano Spalletti, who is more than capable, an excellent coach, one of the best,” Lichtsteiner said, with quotes via TuttoMercatoWeb .
“I’m sure he’ll put everything right and bring Juventus back to the Champions League next year. I have a lot of confidence in him.”
LECCE, ITALY – MAY 09: Head coach of Juventus FC Luciano Spalletti smiles during the Serie A match between US Lecce and Juventus FC at Stadio Via del Mare on May 09, 2026 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images) Lichtsteiner on Juventus rebuild and warm return The former right-back, who spent seven years in Turin, was clear-eyed about the scale of the task, pointing to the leadership vacuum left by the club’s departed greats.
“It’s difficult to make a comparison. Obviously with Pirlo, Buffon and Del Piero there were hugely important pillars, which perhaps you don’t see yet today,” he said.
“Those players are no longer there, and in my view Juventus will have to rebuild that kind of leadership too.” Still, he expects the demand for success to be met sooner or later: “When you wear this shirt you have to win. That’s the pressure at Juventus.”
Lichtsteiner was visibly touched by his reception on returning to face his old side.
“To come back after seven years and receive this affection, after all the successes we lived through together, makes me very happy,” he said.
And asked about the vacant Italy job , he threw his support behind another Juventus old boy in the frame: “Would I see Andrea Pirlo as Italy coach? Yes, of course. I know Andrea and I think he has all the qualities. I’m absolutely sure Italy will be great again.”
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What happened
Stephan Lichtsteiner, who spent several seasons at Juventus, has publicly backed Luciano Spalletti to restore the club's fortunes after a difficult period. Lichtsteiner also weighed in on the Italy national team coaching situation, suggesting that former Juventus and Italy legend Andrea Pirlo could be the right figure to lead the Azzurri and 'make Italy great again.' The comments come amid ongoing discussions about Juventus's direction and Italy's future managerial direction.
Chance analysis
This is largely opinion and commentary from a former player rather than breaking news. Lichtsteiner's endorsement of Spalletti reflects broader confidence in the new Juventus project, while his Pirlo-to-Italy suggestion is speculative. Neither Spalletti's appointment nor Pirlo's potential role appears to be confirmed news — these are personal opinions from a respected former player. For prediction systems, this carries minimal direct impact on upcoming matches but reflects the narrative around both Juventus and the Italian national team setup.
No direct match or team performance impact expected; this is a former player's opinion on coaching personnel.
Opinion piece from a former player; no confirmed lineup or tactical changes, so treat as background context for Juventus and Italy national team narratives.