Football Feb 09, 2026

Javi Gracia resigns as Watford head coach after board meeting following Swansea defeat

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By Admin
Sports Journalist
Javi Gracia resigns as Watford head coach after board meeting following Swansea defeat

Watford head coach Javi Gracia has resigned just three months after returning to Vicarage Road.

Gracia - who only returned for a second spell at Vicarage Road in October - had called for a meeting with club owner Gino Pozzo following , saying the team were in a "very difficult moment".

That meeting took place on Sunday, with Gracia deciding to leave the Championship club, who sit 10th in the table, four points outside the play-offs.

The Hornets are now seeking their 24th manager since the Pozzo family took the reins in 2012.

Watford said they were "sad and disappointed", with their statement claiming Gracia "felt he no longer had the motivation".

Charlie Daniels, Dan Gosling and Adrian Mariappa will take the team for the trip to Hull on Tuesday.

After Saturday's defeat, Gracia told reporters he wanted to discuss the quality of the squad and the club's ambitions.

"We are in a very difficult moment," he told BBC Three Counties Radio.

"I knew before the game it could happen. Some players are injured, some players are gone, some players are coming, some players are playing with discomfort. The last results speak about the team now.

"I want to speak with the owner and to know how they feel because I'm really disappointed with the level of the team, the situation of the team and maybe the future of the team as well."

Gracia replaced the sacked Paulo Pezzolano at the start of his second spell in charge of Watford, having previously managed them between January 2018 and September 2019.

The club is sad and disappointed to confirm the resignation of Javi Gracia as head coach.

We retain the belief Javi was the right man to lead the club towards its push for promotion, but Javi felt he no longer had the motivation and was not the right man to continue coaching this exciting group of young players.

We respect his decision and accept his wish to leave Vicarage Road with immediate effect.

Charlie Daniels, Dan Gosling and Adrian Mariappa will take charge of the team against Hull City on Tuesday night. We remain well placed in the Championship, four points off the play-offs with a game in hand and 17 matches remaining.

Everybody at the club believes wholeheartedly this is a squad capable of challenging for promotion.

We would like to thank Javi and his team for their work during two spells at the club. We wish him and his family the best and they will always receive the warmest of welcomes at Watford.

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