Watford Sack Paulo Pezzolano After a 10-Match Stint and Bring Back Javi Gracia as Manager
Watford Football Club have made the decision to terminate their manager's contract after just five months and 10 matches in control, confirming the return of former boss the Spanish coach as his successor.
Reports suggest that the Uruguayan coach, appointed in May to take over from Tom Cleverley, along with his technical staff, were told not to lead training on midweek as rumors about his imminent departure mounted on Tuesday.
Pezzolano was called to a meeting where he was named the 11th head coach Watford have let go since the beginning of the year 2020.
"The club is very pleased to welcome back Gracia," said Watford's chairman and CEO. "His passion, leadership and clear strategy will help us build stability, togetherness and momentum.
"We believe many fans who wished Javi had never departed in the past. With this talented team, we are certain his experience and qualities are exactly what we need now."
Gracia guided the team to the FA Cup final for the only other occasion in the club's history in that year, but was dismissed several games into the next season and most recently coached at Leeds in last year.
"For me, the feeling I have in this moment is that I'm returning home. It was the most enjoyable time of my career," Gracia stated. "I have fond memories and we have unfinished business here. For us, it's a further important step in our career.
"This is something special for us, and simultaneously we are very ambitious for this season. If we are united, we are more powerful."
The decision to remove Pezzolano arrives even after their win against Oxford at Vicarage Road on Saturday, which lifted them to 11th in the Championship after a slow start that yielded a handful of points from the first six games.
Pezzolano is reportedly left disappointed by the call to let him go, having led the side to a three-match unbeaten run that featured a home win over Hull and a draw at Portsmouth, placing them three points off the promotion playoffs.
The coach joined soon after the end of the previous campaign with a proven track record of leading teams to promotion in La Liga, Brazil and his home country.