Leonardo Bonucci sets his sights on becoming Juventus head coach

Former Juventus defender Leonardo Bonucci has revealed that his biggest dream is to one day coach either the Italy national team or the Bianconeri.

Apart from a brief one-season stint at arch-rivals AC Milan, the Italian legend made 502 official appearances for Juventus across two spells, winning 8 Serie A titles and 4 Coppa Italia trophies with the club and playing in 2 Champions League finals.

Bonucci, who currently serves on Roberto Mancini's coaching staff with the Italy national team, made no secret of his desire to take the head coach's seat himself in the future. Juventus, who face Lecce this weekend, are the experienced football man's number one target at club level.

Speaking about his plans at an event, Bonucci said: "This is a project that began almost 10 years ago. When I was 30, I planned when my playing career would end and how much time I would need to earn my coaching licences."

The 39-year-old former centre-back continued:

"I'm 39 now, and I promised myself I would become a head coach at 40. Next year I will complete the final qualification needed to coach at every level. But right now I'm on an enjoyable, exciting and equally stressful journey with the national team. Maybe I'll postpone that goal by a few years, but the aim is to climb the coaching ladder, because nothing is guaranteed on this path. Above all, my goal is Juventus. Still, the professional side of you may require you to accept challenges that go against your personal preferences. The passion for coaching pushes you even further, but the ultimate dream is Juventus or the national team."

Under pressure after failing to start the season as hoped under head coach Luciano Spalletti, Juventus sit just 2 points ahead of league opponents Lecce. Lecce, meanwhile, come into the game with a morale boost after a convincing 3-0 win over Udinese in their last match.

Players to watch

Lecce – Tiago Gabriel

Tiago Gabriel has scored 4 Serie A goals since the start of last season, the most among defenders born in 2004 or later. Over the same period, the young player also leads all players in that age group for appearances (43), interceptions (54), clearances (274) and aerial duels won (138).

Juventus – Randal Kolo Muani

Of Randal Kolo Muani's 9 Serie A goals for Juventus, 6 (67%) have come in away matches. Among players to have scored at least as many league goals for the Bianconeri, only Sergio Brio (75%) has a higher share of away goals.

Form and head-to-head

This is the first time in Serie A history that Lecce and Juventus meet on matchday 8 or later with fewer than 3 points separating them. Before this season, the smallest gap between the two sides after 7 matches had come in matchday 17 of the 1989-90 season (4 points in Juventus' favour).

Inter (13) are the only team to have won more Serie A away games at Lecce than Juventus (12 wins, level with Roma). Lecce, for their part, have managed just 5 draws and 3 wins at home against Juventus. Lecce have also won only 1 of their last 20 Serie A matches against Juventus.