By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Ademola Lookman is set to work under new management at Atalanta following the club’s decision to dismiss head coach Ivan Jurić after a difficult spell in charge.
Atalanta confirmed the Croatian’s departure in an official statement on Monday, announcing that Jurić and his backroom staff had been relieved of their duties. The club expressed gratitude for their service and wished them success in their future endeavours.
Jurić’s exit ends a turbulent four-month tenure marked by inconsistent performances and reported tensions with key players, including Lookman.
The strained relationship between the pair came to public attention during Atalanta’s 1–0 UEFA Champions League victory over Marseille, when Jurić was seen grabbing the Nigerian forward by the arm during a touchline dispute.
A 3–0 defeat to Sassuolo at the weekend is believed to have sealed the manager’s fate, prompting the club’s hierarchy to act swiftly.
Lookman and his teammates will now prepare to adapt to a new managerial direction as Atalanta seek to stabilise their season and reassert themselves in Serie A and Europe.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
