Conte and Juventus go their separate ways

Juventus and coach Antonio Conte have decided to part company after a three-year relationship which produced a hat-trick of Serie A titles.

"We have decided to terminate the contract which was expiring at the end of next season," the 44-year-old former Bianconeri midfielder announced in a departing statement. "At a club like Juventus you are almost forced to win, so it is very tiring. I want to thank the fans for their support both when I was a player and when I was a coach.

"We must be proud of what we have done in the last three years. Nobody can deny what we did. I also want to thank the players who helped me win so much and the club who appointed me in a difficult moment for Juventus and continued to support me over the following three seasons."

With the Turin side for 13 years of his playing career, Conte was installed as coach in 2011 after guiding AS Bari and AC Siena to Serie A promotions in 2009 and 2011 respectively. He immediately led Juve to the championship in his first term, negotiating that debut campaign undefeated.

The Vecchia Signora went on to claim the next two titles, last season notching a Serie A record 102 points, while making the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 2012/13 and the last four of the UEFA Europa League in May. The club have not yet named a successor.

Club president Andrea Agnelli described Conte as a "great leader" in an open letter on the club's website. "I think about the three years we spent together, the three years in which we rewrote this club's history," he said. "Juventus will start again with a squad of highly talented, professional footballers who will give their all for the new coach and go on writing this club's present and future. You have been a part of Juventus' history and I know that whatever choice you make, hearing of a Juventus victory will always bring a smile to your face."