Watford are apparently close to appointing Roy Hodgson as their new head coach after giving Claudio Ranieri his walking papers on Monday and a deal for the former Liverpool, England and Crystal Palace boss is said to be imminent, with him even possibly beginning work as early as Tuesday.
Ranieri was sacked after having been only three months at the helm with Watford lying 19th in the Premier League.
Ranieri had failed miserably to turn around the team’s fortunes since his appointment in October, with the Hornets dropping into the Premier League relegation zone for the first time this season after Friday’s 3-0 home defeat to fellow stragglers Norwich.
Asked about his future after the loss to the Canaries, the former Leicester and Chelsea manager said: “I don’t go away. I want to continue because I am a fighter. I’ve never given up in my career.”
In a statement confirming Ranieri’s departure on Monday evening, Watford said:
“The Hornets’ board recognises Claudio as a man of great integrity and honor, who will always be respected here at Vicarage Road for his efforts in leading the team with dignity.
“However, the board feels that, with nearly half of the Premier League campaign remaining, a change in the head coach position now will give a new appointment sufficient time to work with a talented squad to achieve the immediate goal of retaining Premier League status.
“No further club comment will be made until this new appointment is confirmed in due course.”
Watford have now been through a stretch of 30 Premier League games without a clean sheet (since a 3-0 win vs Liverpool in February 2020), with only West Brom enduring a longer such run in the history of the competition (34 in 2011; Blackburn in 2012 and Wolves in 2012 both also on 30).
If appointed, Hodgson will become the Pozzo family’s 15th permanent manager since they completed their takeover of Watford in June 2012.