Watford have sacked head coach Xisco Munoz after less than 10 months in charge.
The 41-year-old Spaniard, who was appointed in December 2020, helped the Hornets win promotion back to the Premier League at the first time of asking by guiding them to a second-place finish in the Championship last season.
Following their 1-0 defeat at Leeds on Saturday, they sit 14th in the Premier League, 4 points above the relegation places after two wins and one draw in their opening seven games.
A club statement released this morning said: “The Board feels recent performances strongly indicate a negative trend at a time when team cohesion should be visibly improving.
“The Hornets will always be grateful to Xisco for the part he played in securing last season’s promotion and wish him well for his future career in football.
“No further club comment will be available until the imminent announcement of a new Head Coach.”
The 13th change of coach since the Pozzo family took over as Watford owners in 2012, Munoz’s sacking should come as no surprise, even if it does seem rather harsh.
Claudio Ranieri, who led Leicester City to the Premier League title in 2016 and has also managed in England’s top flight with Chelsea and Fulham, is the favourite to take over.
