Big Watford FC decision involving Paulo Pezzolano to be made - familiar face could return | OneFootball

Watford are eyeing the return of Javi Gracia to take over the first team squad

Watford are set to dismiss manager Paulo Pezzolano after a mixed start to the Championship season.

According to Sky Sports reporter Anthony Joseph, the decision has been made ahead of talks with the coach later on Tuesday.

Pezzolano was appointed in the summer as a replacement for Tom Cleverley, who had guided the Hornets to a 14th place finish in his first full season as manager.

Watford supporters had goaded the 42-year-old with ‘sacked in the morning’ chants while 1-0 down to Hull City recently, however a second half comeback earned a vital 2-1 victory.

A draw and a win over Portsmouth and Oxford United in their next two games is looking likely to prove his final acts as manager at Vicarage Road

Watford eyeing Javi Gracia return

It has been claimed that Javi Gracia is in line to replace Pezzolano as Watford manager, with the decision made to dismiss the Uruguayan.

Pezzolano has overseen nine league games so far this season, with his side winning three, drawing three and losing three.

This has left the team 11th in the Championship table going into the October international break, which has been deemed not good enough by the club’s owners.

This was the South American’s first foray into English football, having previously coached in Spain, Brazil and Mexico prior to Watford, but his time at the club is set to last just nine league games.

It is expected that the Hornets will hold talks with Pezzolano on Tuesday, where they will confirm the decision.

Gracia is considered the favourite to take charge in his place, with the Spaniard eyeing a return to the team after previously being manager from 2018 to 2019.

The 55-year-old’s last job came as a short stint at Leeds United in 2023, and he also notably brought Watford to their first FA Cup final in 35 years during his time at Vicarage Road.

Watford are never going to learn

Watford have become an impossible club for any manager to be successful with because no one is given any time to do anything of note.

A change nine games into the season with the team sitting 11th in the table is really quite strange, and going back in for Gracia is highly uninspired.

The Spaniard did a good joh during his first stint with the club, with the side coming 11th in the Premier League and reaching that FA Cup final.