Watford reappoints Gracia after sacking Pezzolano
Watford has sacked head coach Paulo Pezzolano after less than five months in charge and reappointed former boss Javi Gracia.
Pezzolano was appointed in May after the departure of Tom Cleverley, but he only oversaw nine EFL Championship games before being dismissed.
Pezzolano's first six matches yielded a return of just five points, and although he turned the Hornets' form around with two wins and a draw going into the international break, the club has decided to make a change while sitting 11th on the table.
Gracia has taken Pezzolano's place, returning to the dugout for the first time since an ill-fated three-month tenure with Leeds United in 2023.
Gracia previously managed Watford from January 2018 to September 2019, leading it to the FA Cup final in his only full campaign at the helm.
It was thrashed 6-0 by Manchester City in the final at Wembley, suffering the joint-heaviest defeat in FA Cup final history, alongside Derby County's 1903 defeat to Bury, which was also a 6-0 result.
"I'm really happy to be back," Gracia said. "For me, the feeling I have in this moment is that I'm going back home.
"It was the happiest time of my career. I have very good memories, and we have unfinished business here."
Gracia won 18 of his 56 Premier League games in charge of Watford, with his 32% win rate being the best of any Hornets boss in the competition.
The Spaniard's first game back at the club will be away at Sheffield United on 19 October (AEDT), which is bottom of the Championship having lost eight of its nine games this season.
His first match back at Vicarage Road will be against West Bromwich Albion four days later, before a trip to league leader Coventry City on 26 October (AEDT).
