The Hornets Part Ways With Paulo Pezzolano After 10 Games and Reappoint Former Boss as Head Coach
The Championship side have made the move to end their manager's contract after just five months and 10 matches in charge, confirming the reappointment of ex-manager Javi Gracia as his replacement.
It is understood that Pezzolano, appointed in the spring to replace Tom Cleverley, along with his backroom team, were told not to lead practice on Wednesday as speculation about his exit grew on the previous day.
The 40-year-old was summoned for a discussion where he was named the 11th head coach Watford have moved on since the start of the year 2020.
"The club is very pleased to reappoint Gracia," said the club's chief executive. "His enthusiasm, guidance and clear strategy will help us build consistency, togetherness and positive energy.
"We believe many fans who wished Javi had stayed on in 2019. With this young and exciting squad, we are convinced his know-how and attributes are precisely what we require at this moment."
Gracia previously led the team to the FA Cup final for the second time in their history in that year, but was dismissed a few matches into the following campaign and most recently coached at Leeds United in last year.
"For me, the feeling I have in this moment is that I'm returning home. It was the most enjoyable period of my career," Gracia remarked. "I have very good recollections and we have loose ends here. For us, it's a further 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 arrives despite the team's victory against Oxford United at Vicarage Road on the weekend, which moved them to eleventh place in the Championship after a difficult opening that earned a handful of points from the first six games.
Pezzolano is said to have left dismayed by the decision to let him go, having guided the side to a undefeated streak of three games that featured a victory at home over Hull and a tie at Portsmouth, placing them three points off the playoff places.
Pezzolano joined shortly after the end of last season with a proven track record of leading clubs to promotion in Spain, South America and Uruguay.
