Watford turn to another Italian head coach as Dionisi set to take charge for 2026-27 | OneFootball

Reports from various outlets on Wednesday confirm that Alessio Dionisi is set to take over from Ed Still as head coach of EFL Championship side Watford.

According to the latest updates on Wednesday, Dionisi is set to sign a two-year contract with Watford, with wages reported to be in the region of €500,000 per season.

Dionisi most recently took charge of Serie B outfit Empoli at the beginning of the 2025-26 season, but was dismissed in mid-March after picking up just five league victories from 22 attempts. Empoli eventually finished the season in 15th place.

BERGAMO, ITALY – FEBRUARY 17: Alessio Dionisi, Head Coach of US Sassuolo, looks on prior to the Serie A TIM match between Atalanta BC and US Sassuolo – Serie A TIM at Gewiss Stadium on February 17, 2024 in Bergamo, Italy. (Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images)

Dionisi led Palermo to a Serie B play-off finish in 2024-25, but was dismissed in June at the end of that season after losing 1-0 to Juve Stabia in the play-off preliminary round.

Dionisi found more success after being appointed as the successor to Roberto De Zerbi at Sassuolo in 2021. He signed an initial two-year contract with the Neroverdi, led the team to two respectable mid-table finishes in his first two seasons, but was then dismissed midway through his third campaign in charge with the team sitting at the bottom of the Serie A table.

Watford is set to be the 46-year-old’s first managerial experience outside Italy.

Former Italian head coaches of Watford

NAPLES, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 26: Alessio Dionisi Palermo head coach during the Coppa Italia match between SSC Napoli and Palermo at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 26, 2024 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Alessio Dionisi *June 2026-

Claudio Ranieri October 2021 – January 2022

Walter Mazzari July 2016 – May 2017

Giuseppe Sannino – December 2013 – August 2014

Gianfranco Zola July 2012 – December 2013

Gianluca Vialli May 2001 – June 2002