Watford confirm backroom changespublished at 12:17 BST 26 June
12:17 BST 26 June
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Image caption,
Charlie Daniels took charge of two games as interim boss at Watford last season
Watford have announced the departures of Valon Behrami and Charlie Daniels from their backroom staff as well as confirming first-team coach Alberto Garrido's exit from Vicarage Road.
Garrido joined the Championship club in the summer of 2024 to work alongside then boss Tom Cleverley and retained his position under Paulo Pezzolano, Javi Gracia and Ed Still. He had already announced earlier this month that he was leaving Watford.
Former Watford player Behrami worked as assistant to the club's sporting director Gian Luca Nani and leaves after 12 months in the role.
Daniels initially joined the Hornets as an academy coach in 2021 before moving up to assist Ed Still when he was appointed head coach in February, having taken charge of two games in interim charge following the departure of Javi Gracia.
Meanwhile coach Dan Gosling will remain with Watford to assist new boss Alessio Dionisi.
'Nothing will change until the Pozzos sell'published at 15:49 BST 17 June
15:49 BST 17 June
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We asked you what you thought of Watford's appointment of new boss Alessio Dionisi.
Here is a selection of what you had to say:
Matt: He will be gone by the first international break. Until Gino Pozzo wakes up, realises that the problem is him and the people that run the club, we will never move forward.
Martin: If you throw enough darts at the board eventually you must hit the bullseye, surely?
Graham: Par for the course. Completely predictable appointment, ticks every WFC box - no EFL experience, doesn't speak English, mediocre career, unknown, recently sacked for poor results in a poor league in a foreign country.
Qas: We keep putting a new driver behind a sputtering car, rather than changing the engine. Likely to lose Louza and possibly Irankunda or Maamma this summer, without adequate replacements, it might finally be the season our car comes to a complete stop.
Tony: Again it feels like the Pozzos trying to do things on the cheap. Duxbury says we need more Championship experience so we go an get a 'promotion specialist' who has never coached in England.
It will be interesting to see what they do in player recruitment as they are lagging behind other teams (even compared to League One) in terms of splashing the cash on quality, proven players.
Harry: I suppose that Pozzo feels that the scattergun approach to appointing first team coaches must, by the law of averages, pay off at least once. Can only hope that he gets given the players to supplement those already at the club to allow him a chance of success.
Neale: If we get in the players we need he has a fighting chance. We need two experienced defenders and a striker who can hold up. If we get those, it would suit his system he will want to play.
Keeping hold of Baah, Kyprianou, Irankunda and Vata will be crucial to that though. Fingers crossed (that's all we have left!).
Peter: Changing the manager on such a frequent basis only fosters a toxic attitude within the players, as they know they won't be to blame. We've seen this for the last few seasons, and it won't change until the Pozzos sell the club.
Joel: So this is the experienced, promotion-winning Championship manager we were promised? Another elite appointment from the board who have once again ticked every box on the job specification.
I assume Alessio has been told to avoid anything longer than short-term accommodation, because I'm not convinced he'll make it to the first international break, especially when you consider his record at previous clubs.
If you're trying to count up how many managers we've seen through the doors at Vicarage Road since the Pozzo family took over in 2012, Dionisi makes it 24.
The Italian has won the Serie B title with Empoli but the Hornets will offer him his first taste of English football.
Do you think Dionisi could be the one to go the distance, Watford fans?
What are you expecting from your new boss?
Is a fresh face what you were hoping to see in your dugout?
World Cup goal 'a dream come true' - Irankundapublished at 10:45 BST 15 June
10:45 BST 15 June
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Scoring a goal at the World Cup finals for Australia is "a dream come true" for Watford forward Nestory Irankunda.
The 20-year-old opened the scoring with a 27th-minute strike in The Socceroos 2-0 win over Turkey in Vancouver on Sunday.
Irankunda is the youngest player to score for Australia at the World Cup at 20 years and 125 days, beating the previous record set by Brett Holman at the 2010 tournament.
"It is unreal. A dream come true," said Irankunda after Sunday's Group D victory.
"It feels amazing (to be the youngest scorer). You've got to thank the staff, you've got to thank the nation. They all believe in me to do so well and, getting that goal was amazing. It is just a great feeling."
Irankunda moved to Watford from Bayern Munich in July 2025 and scored four goals in 40 Championship appearances last season as the Hornets finished in 16th place.
Australia are second in their group and play the leaders and co-hosts the USA in Seattle on Friday, 19 June.
Watford players getting set for World Cuppublished at 14:29 BST 8 June
14:29 BST 8 June
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Watford winger Nestory Irankunda and goalkeeper Egil Selvik were both in international action at the weekend as preparations for the World Cup ramp up.
Hornets midfielder Edo Kayembe will also be at the tournament with DR Congo, who face Chile in their final warm-up game on Tuesday.
Here is a reminder of the groups the Watford players are in and who they will face, so you can keep an eye out for them once the World Cup begins on 11 June:
Nestory Irankunda, Australia - Group D: USA, Paraguay and Turkey
Egil Selvik, Norway - Group I: France, Senegal and Iraq
Edo Kayembe, DR Congo - Group K: Portugal, Uzbekistan and Colombia
First-team coach Garrido leaves Watfordpublished at 09:42 BST 8 June
09:42 BST 8 June
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Watford first-team coach Alberto Garrido has announced his departure after two seasons with the Championship club.
The Spaniard was appointed in the summer of 2024 to work alongside then boss Tom Cleverley and retained his position under Paulo Pezzolano, Javi Gracia and Ed Still.
"To the players, the staff, the fans and everyone who works at Watford - thank you. For your trust, for how you treated me, and for the respect you gave me from day one," Garrido posted on Instagram., external
"This club and its people will always have a special place in my heart. Thank you Watford. Once a Hornet, always a Hornet.
"Excited about the new challenges that are coming."
Watford are still in the process of selecting a new head coach, having sacked Still on 3 May after they finished 16th in the Championship.
Watford's Irankunda in Australia World Cup squadpublished at 11:04 BST 1 June
11:04 BST 1 June
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Watford forward Nestory Irankunda has been named in Australia's squad for the World Cup which starts next week.
The 20-year-old has made 13 senior appearances for the Socceroos, scoring five goals, including two in a 5-1 friendly win over fellow World Cup qualifiers Curacao in March.
Irankunda also came on for the final 10 minutes of their 1-0 World Cup warm-up defeat by co-hosts Mexico on Sunday.
Australia are in Group D for the tournament alongside Paraguay, Turkey and co-hosts, the USA. They start their campaign against Turkey on Sunday, 14 June.
Watford withdraw under-21 side from leaguepublished at 14:39 BST 27 May
14:39 BST 27 May
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Image caption,
Watford won the FA Youth Cup in 1982 and 1989
Watford have withdrawn their under-21 side from the Professional Development League with a view to creating a "smoother and more realistic pathway to first-team football".
The Hornets have announced that after a review of their academy set-up, they will concentrate their efforts on the under-18 age group with the aim of both improving the overall standard of, and opportunities for, their best young players.
"This key group of young professionals will either train with the first team and/or gain experience out on loan at a much earlier stage in their Professional Development League journey," the club said., external
"The club does not believe fulfilling the U21 fixture programme is in the best interests of its young players and their prospects, so it has notified the EFL of its decision to withdraw from the league for next season."
Watford finished seventh in the Professional Development League this season, winning 12 of their 28 games.
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