Juventus have sacked coach Claudio Ranieri. The former Chelsea boss took over at the Turin giants in 2007 but has failed to end Inter Milan's dominance of Serie A.

Yesterday's 2-2 home draw with Atalanta, which left Juve three points behind second-placed AC Milan with two games of the season left, proved the final straw.

Juventus have not tasted victory in the league since the end of March, a run of six draws and a defeat from their last seven games ending their title hopes.

That loss of form has also left them just a point ahead of Fiorentina in the race for third spot and guaranteed entry into the Champions League group stage.

The Bianconeri also failed to make an impact in Europe, losing to Chelsea in the first knockout round of the Champions League.

Former Juventus defender Ciro Ferrara has been named as Ranieri's replacement.

A statement on the club website, www.juventus.it, read: "Juventus can announce the dismissal of coach Claudio Ranieri. From today the coaching of the first team will be entrusted to Ciro Ferrara.

"Juventus would like to thank Claudio Ranieri for the job he has carried out over the past two years."

Although the club have yet to confirm it, it is thought Ferrara will be in charge just until the end of the season.

Ranieri, who earned the nickname 'the Tinkerman' at Chelsea for his habit for rotating his players, joined Juve after a successful, if brief, stint in charge of Parma, whom he helped save from relegation to Serie B in 2007.

He had left Stamford Bridge in 2005 after club owner Roman Abramovich turned to Jose Mourinho and an unsuccessful spell as coach of Valencia followed.