Fabio Capello has left AS Roma to take over as new coach of Juventus, the Turin club told Reuters on Friday.

"Capello has signed a three-year contract," said a Juventus spokeswoman.

Juventus, who finished third in Serie A, had been without a coach since Marcello Lippi left the club at the end of the season but the decision to appoint Capello is a major surprise.

Didier Deschamps, coach of Champions League finalists Monaco, and Parma's Cesare Prandelli, who are both former Juventus players, had been widely tipped to take the job.

Capello, who also played for Juventus before beginning a coaching career which has included spells with AC Milan and Real Madrid, helped Roma to the Serie A title in 2001.

Roma have had financial problems of late and were forced to sell defender Walter Samuel to Real Madrid last week.