Tag Archives: Management Change

8th October 2025- Paulo Pezzolano is sacked and Javi Gracia returns as Head Coach

Club Statement: Head Coach – Watford FCDownload
Gracia: “I’m Coming Home” – Watford FCDownload

Watford Observer: Stories emerge that Watford are lining up Gracia with Pezzolano exit likely

Deeney: ‘Pezzolano has fallen out with everybody’

Watford confirm departure of Pezzolano and the appointment of returning Gracia

Duxbury: ”We are sure many supporters wish Gracia had never left’

‘Unfinished business’: First Javi Gracia quotes as he returns to Vicarage Road

‘We were building’ – Pezzolano releases statement after leaving Watford

The inside story of why Watford sacked Paulo Pezzolano and rehired Javi Gracia

BBC: Watford have sacked head coach Paulo Pezzolano after just 10 games in charge of the Championship club and replaced him with former boss Javi Gracia.

Sky: Crunch talks were being held on Tuesday and the club hierarchy have now parted ways with Pezzolano, who becomes the 12th manager Watford have sacked in just five years.

Guardian: The Uruguayan is said to have left dismayed by the decision to sack him having guided Watford to a three-match unbeaten run that also included a home win over Hull and a draw at Portsmouth and means they are three points off the playoff places.

13th May 2025- Paulo Pezzolano is appointed Watford Head Coach.

Official: Pezzolano Appointed Head Coach – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Pezzolano appointed Watford head coach

Guardian: Watford appoint Paulo Pezzolano as 18th permanent manager since 2013

Watford Observer: Watford appoint Uruguayan Pezzolano as their new head coach

Who is Watford’s new head coach, Paulo Pezzolano?

‘It is his work on the training ground that impressed the most’

Pezzolano On Joining Watford: “A Great Honour” – Watford FCDownload

6th May 2025- Tom Cleverley is sacked as Watford Head Coach

Club Statement: Tom Cleverley – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Watford have sacked head coach Tom Cleverley after the team failed to reach the Championship play-offs.

Sky: Though Cleverley’s dismissal represents Watford’s 10th sacking in the last five years, he leaves as the third-longest-serving manager since Gino Pozzo took over as owner in 2012.

Guardian: The sporting director, Gian Luca Nani, said: “We thank Tom for his service – not just in his role as head coach but for everything he has given Watford as a player and member of staff.

Watford Observer: Tom Cleverley sacked as Watford head coach

Blissett brands Cleverley sacking ‘a total and utter farce’

RECAP: reaction as Watford sack Tom Cleverley

Sorrow, sympathy and support – but sadly nothing Watford do shocks us anymore

‘Could this be the sacking that tips people over the edge?’

From the Rookery End: DCW was joined by Mike and Jas to discuss Gino Pozzo’s decision to sack one of the most popular Head Coaches in recent Watford history. The trio try to make sense of the decision, and in doing so question what future Watford can hope to have under the leadership of Pozzo, Duxbury and Nani.

The following day the club released a statement from Gino Pozzo

Owner Statement: Gino Pozzo – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Gino Pozzo: The man behind Watford’s manager churn

Watford Observer: Pozzo: ‘We believe we made correct decision for the good of the football club’

New name comes from nowhere to be bookies’ favourite for Watford job

‘94 per cent’ of Watford fans disagree with Cleverley sacking

24th April 2024- Tom Cleverley confirmed as Head Coach

He had been acting as Interim Head Coach since Valerin Ismael was sacked on 9th March.


Watford Observer: Cleverley is appointed Watford’s new head coach

OPINION: Appointment of Tom is a sign of the owner acting Cleverley

BBC: Cleverley named permanent Watford boss

The morning before Tom’s appointment this article appeared on the BBC website.

I lacked ambition as a player but not as a coach – Cleverley

9th March 2024- Championship, Watford 1 Coventry City 2 after which Valerien Ismael was dismissed and replaced by Tom Cleverley who was named as Interim Head Coach

https://www.skysports.com/football/watford-vs-coventry-city/teams/485145

WFC.Net Goal Commentary: 1

Sky: Haji Wright scored twice as Coventry came from behind to beat Watford 2-1 at Vicarage Road.

BBC: Ryan Porteous put the home side in front after a bright start from the out-of-form hosts. USA forward Wright scored a penalty just before half-time to level after Josh Eccles was fouled, before adding another 18 minutes from time.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 1 Coventry City 2

The drop and the chop – could one or both happen to Ismael?

Hornets’ home misery continues with Coventry defeat

Around five and a half hours after the game finished the club confirmed that Valerin Ismael had been dismissed as Head Coach and would be replaced by Tom Cleverley on an interim basis.

BBC: Watford have sacked boss Valerien Ismael following a run of only one win in 10 league games, with Tom Cleverley named as interim head coach.

Sky: Ismael was Watford’s 20th different manager since the Pozzo family took control of the club in 2020.

Watford Observer: Ismael sacked – Cleverley takes interim charge

Ismael sacked: he got more time than many but couldn’t survive this run

Sacked in March but Ismael’s January decisions were his downfall

BHappy: And so midway through the writing of this report the news breaks that has been coming, however reluctantly.  Ten months is probably not far from average for a managerial tenure these days and any number of statistics will support the fact that most clubs in this position would have taken the same steps by now, not that this will prevent any tired hacks from wheeling out tired gags.

Fran’s Watford Blog: I went to a gig in the evening and, while travelling home, picked up the news that Valerien had gone.  Given the terrible run of results that we have had lately, it was hardly a surprise.  I just hope that Tom Cleverley can bring some of the magic that he has had with the youngsters to the first team.  I certainly wish him well.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68454825