Edward Still: Watford appoints a new coach to replace Javi Gracia

He still has managerial experience in the Belgian Pro League with Charleroi, KAS Eupen and KV Kortrijk.

He also previously served as assistant to his younger brother Will at French club Lens, where he led them to eighth place in Ligue 1 in the 2024-25 season.

Scott Duxbury, Watford chairman and chief executive, said: “Ed has been appointed based on the conviction that this is a manager whose modern, progressive coaching methods fit perfectly into our team dynamic, who we believe will take the team forward, and who gives us a real chance of challenging for the play-offs.”

Former Bournemouth defender Charlie Daniels, who has been caretaker manager at Vicarage Road for the past two games, will take on the role of first-team coach alongside Karim Belhoucine.

“We are thrilled that Charlie Daniels has accepted Ed’s invitation to be part of his coaching staff, and we are truly grateful for the work and work he has done in the interim,” Duxbury said.

“He has quickly gained the respect of the coaching staff and players, and his promotion maintains that link with the academy.”

He still becomes Watford’s third manager of the season, with Paolo Pizzolano lasting just 10 games at the start of the season before Gracia was reappointed, having previously left in 2019.

The Hornets also had three managers in the same 2021-22 season when Zesco Munoz, Claudio Ranieri and Roy Hodgson took over, and again the following season when Rob Edwards, Slaven Bilic and Chris Wilder took over.

He remains Watford’s 14th manager, not counting the interim coaches, since September 2019 when Gracia first left, and the 11th since the end of the 2020-21 season.