Rome, 19 March 2024 (dpa/MIA) - Croatian Igor Tudor has taken over as coach of Italian Serie A club Lazio, the Rome side said in a statement on Monday.

Following the surprise resignation of Maurizio Sarri last week, the Croatian has taken over as manager of the ninth-placed side as of Monday, Lazio said in a brief statement.

Assistant coach Giovanni Martusciello had been in charge on an interim basis for less than a week following Sarri's departure.

Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport had reported over the weekend that club president Claudio Lotito and Tudor agreed on a contract until the end of June 2025, adding that former Lazio striker and 2014 German world champion Miroslav Klose, was never an option despite speculation.

Lazio, runners-up in Serie A last term, were recently knocked out of the Champions League last 16 by Bayern Munich.

The 45-year-old Tudor, who famously played for Juventus, has been without a coaching job since leaving Marseille in June.

He previously coached Udinese and Hellas Verona in Italy.

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