FLORENCE, ITALY – FEBRUARY 26: Maurizio Sarri manager of SS Lazio looks on during the Serie A TIM match between ACF Fiorentina and SS Lazio at Stadio Artemio Franchi on February 26, 2024 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Former Juventus coach Maurizio Sarri admits he enjoyed watching Thiago Motta’s Bologna last season, so he voted for the ex-Bianconeri boss at the 2023-24 Panchina d’Oro.

Italian professional league coaches voted for the best manager in 2023-24. The award ceremony took place in Coverciano, Florence, on Monday.

Inter coach Simone Inzaghi, the 2003-24 Serie A champion, resulted in the Panchina d’Oro winner, followed by Gian Piero Gasperini and Vincenzo Italiano, the Fiorentina coach last season.

Sarri attended the ceremony and spoke to Sky Sport Italia after the event.

The Italian tactician has been without a club since March 2024 when Igor Tudor replaced him at Lazio.

Ironically, the Croatian has just been appointed as the new Juventus boss, replacing Thiago Motta.

“It’s always hard to have an idea from the outside. There are surely internal dynamics that we can’t understand,” Sarri said about Motta’s sacking.

Sarri voted for Thiago Motta as Best Serie A coach in 2023-24

“It’s always difficult to evaluate from the outside. Surely, some internal dynamics make the difference in some decisions when results don’t arrive.”

Sarri was the last Juventus coach to win the Serie A title in 2019-20.

The former Juventus boss revealed he voted for Thiago Motta for the Panchina d’Oro award.

“It’s a strange award as it refers to 2023-24,” he said.

“We voted eight or nine months after the end of the season. In these nine months, things that happened could lead to a different vote, but this is about 2023-24.

“If we had voted the day after the end of the season, Thiago Motta could have won. It was about 2023-24, and I had fun watching Bologna.”

Sarri also shared his view on the Serie A title race.

“I’d be glad if Atalanta remain involved until the end. It’s an incredible history and I’d love to see them up there until the end,” he said.

“There was a feeling from the beginning that Inter and Napoli had something more than the others. Inter more than Napoli. It’s nice that the race is open until the end. Today, I was lucky to talk to Antonio Conte, and I was happy that I saw a coach in love with the people. This is something Napoli creates, and I was glad about it.”

How is Sarri preparing for his next appointment?

“Like all of us, when there are these periods, one tries to remain updated, watching players, teams, and trends,” he said.

“It’s normal; I think it’s what we all do when we are not coaching.”

When will he return?

“When I receive a call and whether an emotion and a strong motivation match it,” Sarri concluded.