New Juventus coach Montero famous for record red cards

If Juventus noted Max Allegri was fired for ‘behaviour incompatible with the values’ of the club, then interim coach Paolo Montero is most famous for his red cards and punching opponents in the face.

The decision was made to sack Allegri this afternoon, as the tension escalated after the Coppa Italia Final win over Atalanta on Wednesday.

“The exoneration follows certain behaviours during and after the Coppa Italia final that the club deemed incompatible with the values of Juventus and the behaviour that those who represent it should have,” read the statement.

This included tearing off his jacket, tie and almost shirt, screaming in the face of the fourth official, then getting into an altercation with the editor of Tuttosport.

However, it has raised a few eyebrows among Juve fans that Allegri’s replacement is Montero, famously the ‘hard man’ of the Bianconeri defence during his playing career.

Montero the hard man of Juventus

Now 52, the Uruguayan came to Italy for Atalanta in 1992, then joined Juventus in 1996, where he remained until 2005.

Montero still retains the all-time record for most red cards in Serie A, 16 in 266 matches.

He also received a 20-day ban in 2000 for punching Inter’s Gigi Di Biagio in the face.

“As far as I was concerned, the football pitch was a battle for survival,” said Montero.

If we look beyond Serie A, then Montero received an astonishing 21 red cards in his playing career.

During his time at Juventus in 1996, Montero got into an altercation with a photographer on the side of the pitch who was arguing with his teammate Angelo Di Livio, with the photographer taking him to court.

He hasn’t exactly calmed down, as confirmed by the fact he will not be announced as the new Juventus coach until after Saturday morning – so he can sit out a touchline ban with the Under-19 team.