Watford Part Ways With Their Manager After 10 Games and Reappoint Javi Gracia as Head Coach
Watford Football Club have taken the move to terminate their manager's tenure after just a brief period and 10 games in charge, announcing the reappointment of former boss Javi Gracia as his successor.
It is understood that the Uruguayan coach, appointed in the spring to take over from the interim manager, along with his backroom team, were told not to take practice on midweek as rumors about his imminent departure mounted on Tuesday.
The 40-year-old was called to a meeting where he was named the 11th manager Watford have moved on since the beginning of 2020.
"We are very pleased to welcome back Javi," said the club's chief executive. "His passion, guidance and well-defined plan will help us build stability, unity and momentum.
"We believe many fans who wished Javi had never departed in the past. With this young and exciting squad, we are certain his experience and attributes are precisely what we require at this moment."
Gracia previously led the team to the FA Cup showpiece for the second time in the club's history in that year, but was sacked a few matches into the following campaign and most recently coached at Leeds United in last year.
"Personally, the emotion I have in this moment is that I'm returning home. It was the happiest period of my professional life," he stated. "I have very good recollections and we have loose ends here. For us, it's another important step in our journey.
"This is something special for us, and simultaneously we are highly motivated for this season. If we are united, we are more powerful."
The decision to remove Pezzolano arrives despite their win against Oxford United at Vicarage Road on the weekend, which moved them to 11th in the Championship after a difficult opening that earned five points from the first six games.
Pezzolano is said to have left disappointed by the call to let him go, having guided the side to a three-match unbeaten run that also included a home win over Hull City and a tie at Portsmouth, leaving them within touching distance off the promotion playoffs.
The coach joined shortly after the end of the previous campaign with a strong record of guiding teams to promotion in Spain, South America and Uruguay.