Just as Ivan Juric was gearing up for his new adventure as Atalanta’s head coach, life threw him a curveball.
The former Southampton manager was hospitalized with a serious inflammation in his upper airways, derailing plans for his first training sessions with the Italian club.
What Happened to Juric?
Juric, the 49-year-old Croatian coach who replaced Gian Piero Gasperini at Atalanta last month, fell ill due to a bacterial infection affecting his epiglottis — a critical part of the upper airway.
The infection caused severe inflammation, requiring hospital care.
Atalanta shared a statement saying Juric was admitted to the Bolognini Hospital in Seriate, where he received intravenous antibiotics under the care of Dr. Davide Panciera in the ENT department.
Thankfully, the club confirmed that Juric is making significant improvements and is expected to leave the hospital under protected care within a few days.
Juric’s Recent Coaching Journey
This new role at Atalanta marks a fresh chapter for Juric after a tough spell at Southampton, where he lasted only 16 games before the club’s relegation to the Championship.
During his time at St Mary’s, Juric managed just two wins — against Ipswich and Swansea — both teams also facing relegation struggles.
After Southampton’s relegation was confirmed in April, Juric openly criticized the club’s recruitment policies and called for reflection on mistakes made over the previous few years.
Lessons from a Challenging Year
Despite the setbacks, Juric has reflected positively on his experiences over the past year.
Moving back to Serie A, he said the challenges in England helped him grow both professionally and personally.
He praised the Premier League’s quality and professionalism, saying, “I saw really beautiful things and the level of the players is very high.”
Juric also spoke about how his time managing top clubs like Roma enriched his understanding of the game.
In his own words:
“It was a negative year on a sporting level, but from a human and knowledge level, it was fantastic.
I think I feel much stronger than a year ago.”
What’s Next for Juric?
Now focused on his new two-year deal at Atalanta, Juric is expected to return soon to begin preparing the team for the upcoming Serie A season.
Fans will be eager to see how he applies the lessons from his past challenges to help La Dea compete at the highest level.