Zaccheroni replaces Ferrara at Juventus

Alberto Zaccheroni was hired to replace Ciro Ferrara as coach of Juventus on Friday.

The Turin team has lost nine of its last 12 matches and Ferrara's status was uncertain for weeks.

Juventus was eliminated from the Italian Cup after a 2-1 loss to Inter Milan on Thursday. That followed a loss to AS Roma in Serie A last weekend, with Juve allowing late goals on both occasions.

``We have failed on our season goal,'' Juventus president Jean-Claude Blanc said after the Inter loss. ``It is very upsetting.''

Zaccheroni was expected to sign a contract only through the end of the season, which would fuel speculation that Juve will go after Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez.

Juventus said Zaccheroni would attend his first training session later Friday.

Zaccheroni led AC Milan to the Serie A title in 1999 and has also coached Inter Milan, Lazio and Udinese in the top Italian league. The 56-year-old has been out of coaching since getting fired by Torino in February 2007.