Fabio Capello [ Images ] has left AS Roma to take over as new coach of Juventus [ Images ], 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 [ Images ] 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 [ Images ] and Real Madrid [ Images ], 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.