Italian football club Atalanta have terminated the contract of head coach Ivan Juric following a catastrophic start to the 2025-26 Serie A campaign that has left the traditionally top-tier side languishing in 13th position after just 11 matches.

The Croatian tactician’s dismissal came swiftly on the heels of a humiliating 3-0 home defeat to newly-promoted Sassuolo on Sunday, a result that proved the final straw for the Bergamo-based club’s hierarchy after weeks of mounting pressure.

Juric, who arrived at the Gewiss Stadium during the summer transfer window as the handpicked successor to club legend Gian Piero Gasperini, departs with a woeful record of just two league victories from 11 encounters. The dismal run has seen La Dea collect a paltry 12 points from a possible 33, with their recent form proving particularly alarming.

The club’s struggles intensified over their last eight Serie A fixtures, during which they managed to accumulate merely six points through six consecutive draws followed by back-to-back defeats. This sequence of results represented a dramatic fall from grace for a side that has competed in European football’s elite Champions League in recent seasons.

According to Football Italia specialist Alfredo Pedullà, Juric had been informed by club officials that his final two matches—a midweek Champions League encounter against French side Marseille and the weekend league fixture against Sassuolo—would determine his fate at the helm.

Whilst Atalanta secured victory over Marseille in European competition, Juric courted controversy through a tense touchline exchange with star forward Ademola Lookman that dominated post-match discussion. The subsequent hammering by Sassuolo sealed the coach’s destiny.

In a remarkable twist of timing, Juric’s sacking occurred exactly one year to the day after he was dismissed by Roma on 10 December 2024, highlighting the precarious nature of his managerial career.

Media reports suggest that Raffaele Palladino, who has previously managed Monza and Fiorentina, is the leading candidate to assume control of the first-team coaching duties at Atalanta.

The club released an official statement confirming the changes: “Atalanta BC announces that Ivan Juric has been relieved of his position as head coach of the first team, along with his closest members of staff, namely Matteo Paro, Miguel Veloso, Pablo Barbero, Stjepan Ostojic and Michele Orecchio.”

The statement continued: “Atalanta thanks Ivan Juric and his staff for their efforts, and wishes them all the best for the future.”