Watford’s managers under the Pozzo family
There have been frequent managerial changes at Vicarage Road since their takeover in 2012.
Watford sacked Marco Silva on Sunday
Watford have a new boss once again after Javi Gracia was appointed on Sunday following the sacking of Marco Silva.
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Spaniard Gracia’s arrival makes him the 10th manager the Hornets have had since the Pozzo family’s takeover at the club in June 2012.
Here, Press Association Sport looks at the nine previous men who had the job under the Italian owners.
Sean Dyche (June 2011 – July 2012)
Dyche was sacked shortly after the takeover, having just guided Watford to an 11th-placed finish in the Championship in his only season in charge.
Gianfranco Zola (July 2012 – December 2013)
Gianfranco Zola, left, replaced Sean Dyche, right, as Watford boss in 2012
The former Italy and Chelsea player led Watford to the 2012-13 play-off final, which they lost to Crystal Palace, then resigned just over six months later with them 13th in the table and winless in nine matches.
Giuseppe Sannino (December 2013 – August 2014)
Watford went on to finish 2013-14 in 13th spot under Zola’s compatriot Sannino, and they were second in the table when he resigned after five league games of the following season, saying he had gone “as far as I can” in the job.
Oscar Garcia (September 2014 – September 2014)
Having been brought in as Sannino’s replacement, former Brighton boss Garcia then stepped down less than a month later following a health scare.
Billy McKinlay (September 2014 – October 2014)
Billy McKinlay was replaced just eight days after being appointed
McKinlay, who had only just joined Watford as a first-team coach, took over from Spaniard Garcia and his reign lasted eight days. Having overseen a win against Brentford and draw with Sheffield Wednesday, the Scot was replaced by Slavisa Jokanovic, with the owners citing the need for “an experienced head coach with a winning pedigree”.
Slavisa Jokanovic (October 2014 – June 2015)
Watford secured promotion as Championship runners-up under ex-Chelsea player Jokanovic, but he then left after the season finished, with talks over extending the Serbian’s contract having broken down.
Quique Sanchez Flores (June 2015 – May 2016)
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Sanchez Flores guided Watford to a 13th-placed finish in the Premier League and the FA Cup semi-finals before leaving at the end 2015-16, with it having been decided an extension clause in the Spaniard’s contract would not be activated.
Walter Mazzarri (July 2016 – May 2017)
Watford came 17th in Mazzarri’s sole season in charge, finishing six points above the relegation zone. The club announced before the final game of the campaign that it had been decided, following a meeting between the Italian and the board, that he would be stepping down after the match.
Marco Silva (May 2017 – Jan 2018)
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Silva replaced Mazzarri after impressing at Hull in 2016-17, despite not being able to save them from relegation, and Watford then had an excellent start under the Portuguese. Everton made an approach for him in November and when he was sacked on Sunday, with the Hornets 10th in the table having won only one of their last 11 league games, they said the “the unwarranted approach by a Premier League rival” was the “catalyst for this decision”.
