Watford Sack Paulo Pezzolano Following 10 Games and Reappoint Javi Gracia as Head Coach
Watford Football Club have taken the decision to end Paulo Pezzolano's contract after just a brief period and 10 games in charge, confirming the reappointment of ex-manager Javi Gracia as his successor.
Reports suggest that Pezzolano, appointed in May to replace the interim manager, along with his backroom team, were instructed not to take practice on Wednesday as speculation about his exit grew on the previous day.
Pezzolano was summoned for a discussion where he became the 11th head coach Watford have moved on since the beginning of the year 2020.
"The club is delighted to reappoint Gracia," said the club's chief executive. "His passion, leadership and well-defined plan will help us build consistency, unity and positive energy.
"We believe many fans who hoped Gracia had stayed on in the past. With this young and exciting team, we are convinced his know-how and qualities are precisely what we need now."
Gracia guided the team to the FA Cup showpiece for the second time in their history in that year, but was dismissed several games into the next season and most recently coached at Leeds United in 2023.
"Personally, the emotion I have in this moment is that I'm going back home. It was the happiest period of my career," Gracia remarked. "There are fond memories and we have unfinished business at Watford. For us, it's another significant move in our career.
"This is something special for us, and simultaneously we are very ambitious for this campaign. If we are united, we are stronger."
The decision to remove Pezzolano comes even after their win against Oxford at their home ground on the weekend, which lifted them to 11th in the Championship after a slow start that yielded five points from the initial six matches.
Pezzolano is said to have left disappointed by the call to sack him, having led the side to a undefeated streak of three games that also included a victory at home over Hull and a draw at Portsmouth, leaving them three points off the promotion playoffs.
The coach joined soon after the end of the previous campaign with a proven track record of guiding clubs to advancement in La Liga, Brazil and Uruguay.
