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+----- Thread: A new manager (/showthread.php?tid=12336)
A new manager - themaclad - 11-05-2023
Watford have appointed former Barnsley and West Brom boss Valerien Ismael as their new head coach.
The 47-year-old replaces Chris Wilder, appointed in March on a short-term deal through to the end of the season.
Under Wilder, the Hornets finished 11th in the Championship, six points adrift of the play-off places.
Ismael was most recently with Turkish club Besiktas, having been appointed by them just a month after being sacked by West Brom in February 2022.
"Being able to appoint a new coach so soon in May means we can prepare very well together for next season," said Watford's technical director Ben Manga.
"To be able to welcome someone of Valerien's experience to Watford is good news for our club. We are all looking forward to working with him."
Ismael left The Hawthorns with the club fifth in the Championship, after just eight months in charge.
The Frenchman took over following the club's relegation from the Premier League in 2021, having agreed a four-year contract.
He won four of his first five games in charge, but only eight of the next 24 and some fans were critical of his preferred style of play.
His approach had proved successful at Barnsley, where he was appointed in the autumn of 2020 and led them to the second-tier play-offs before losing on aggregate to Swansea City.
Former defender Ismael played in the Premier League for Crystal Palace in 1997-98 and his coaching career has also included spells at clubs in Germany, Greece and Austria.
He is Watford's 10th head coach since 2018 and seventh since the end of the 2020-21 season.
Since Sean Dyche left Vicarage Road in 2012, Gianfranco Zola, Giuseppe Sannino, Oscar Garcia, Billy McKinlay, Slavisa Jokanovic, Quique Sanchez Flores, Walter Mazzarri, Marco Silva, Javi Gracia, Nigel Pearson, Vladimir Ivic, Xisco Munoz, Claudio Ranieri, Roy Hodgson, Rob Edwards, Slaven Bilic and Wilder have all had spells in charge.
RE: A new manager - themaclad - 10-03-2024
NOT SURPRISED AT THIS ALTHOUGH EVERY CREDIT FOR LASTING THIS LONG AT WATFORD
Watford have sacked boss Valerien Ismael following a run of only one win in 10 league games, with Tom Cleverley named as interim head coach.
Former Manchester United and England midfielder Cleverley, 34, had been coaching their under-18 side after his retirement from playing last year.
The Hornets, who are 13th in the Championship, say Cleverley's staff will be "confirmed in due course".
Ex-Barnsley and West Brom boss Ismael joined Watford in May 2023.
The 47-year-old's departure means the club are now looking for their 11th head coach since 2018 and eighth since the end of the 2020-21 season.
Since Sean Dyche left Vicarage Road in 2012, Gianfranco Zola, Giuseppe Sannino, Oscar Garcia, Billy McKinlay, Slavisa Jokanovic, Quique Sanchez Flores, Walter Mazzarri, Marco Silva, Javi Gracia, Nigel Pearson, Vladimir Ivic, Xisco Munoz, Claudio Ranieri, Roy Hodgson, Rob Edwards, Slaven Bilic and Chris Wilder have also had spells in charge.
Ismael, who arrived at Vicarage Road following a spell in Turkey with Besiktas, previously led Barnsley to the Championship play-offs in 2021.
But he lasted only eight months at West Brom before leaving in February 2022.
Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Coventry was their third in four matches and sixth in their past eight games, with their only win in the previous 10 coming against bottom club Rotherham.
"The Hornets thank Valerien and his staff for their dedication and commitment," said a club statement. "However, the club's board considers it an appropriate time to make a change in order to improve results."
Cleverley, capped 13 times by England, ended his playing career with Watford, having joined from Everton in 2017.
He won the Premier League title with Manchester United in 2013 and was part of the Hornets team who reached the FA Cup final in 2019.
RE: A new manager - themaclad - 24-04-2024
Cleverley gets the job