TURIN, Italy (AP) Alberto Zaccheroni was hired to replace Ciro Ferrara as coach of Juventus on Friday.

The Turin team has lost nine of its last 12 games in all competitions and Ferrara had been at risk for weeks.

"Zaccheroni guarantees us with the top-level experience needed in this difficult time," Juventus president Jean-Claude Blanc said at Zaccheroni's introduction.

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

"I like challenges and this is the start of a new cycle," Zaccheroni said after directing his first training session. "The management of a club is very important and I don't know too many squads superior to Juve . . . I'm convinced I can win this challenge."