Watford sack Claudio Ranieri after seven defeats from eight matches as club search for TENTH manager in three years
WATFORD have sacked Claudio Ranieri after their dismal defeat to relegation rivals Norwich on Friday.
Josh Sargent’s double and an own goal from Juraj Kucka condemned the Hornets to a seventh Premier League defeat from their last eight matches.
The result also led to the Canaries overtaking Watford to leave them in the bottom three for the first time this term.
The Vicarage Road outfit are without a win since beating Manchester United 4-1 in November.
Now the 70-year-old, who previously managed Chelsea and led Leicester to their odds-defying Prem title success in 2016, has paid the price after just three months in charge.
A club statement read: “Watford Football Club confirms the departure of Head Coach Claudio Ranieri.
“The Hornets’ Board recognises Claudio as a man of great integrity and honour, 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.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
“No further club comment will be made until this new appointment is confirmed in due course.”
Ranieri was given a two-year contract back in October when he replaced Xisco Munoz.
The Italian is now the seventh permanent manager to be sacked by Watford since the summer of 2017.
The much-travelled Ranieri had last worked in England during the 2018/19 campaign.
He joined Fulham that November but was axed after just 106 days following only three wins in 17 matches season.
Malky Mackay was the last boss to survive two seasons at Watford before leaving in June 2011.
The club are now searching for their 16th permanent manager since then after axing Ranieri.
Meanwhile, Ranieri will now be searching for yet another job as he enters a 37th year in management.
He has coached some of the biggest clubs in Europe including Atletico Madrid, Juventus, Inter Milan and Chelsea.
But having coached four different clubs in just over three years, his stock may now be at an all-time low.
Read our Transfer News Live blog for the very latest rumours, gossip and done deals