Javi Gracia has resigned as Watford head coach after just over three months in his second spell at Vicarage Road. The Spanish manager called for a meeting with owner Gino Pozzo following Saturday’s 2-0 defeat by Swansea City, stating he no longer had the motivation to continue coaching the squad. According to Bbc.com.
Gracia walks away from Watford citing motivation concerns after Swansea loss
The 55-year-old Spaniard told club owner Gino Pozzo that the team were in a “very difficult moment” following the weekend defeat. Watford’s official statement revealed that while the club retained belief Gracia was the right man to lead their promotion push, he felt he could no longer effectively coach the young squad.
Gracia’s departure leaves Watford in 10th place in the Championship, sitting four points adrift of the playoff positions. The timing proves particularly challenging with an away trip to third-placed Hull City scheduled for Tuesday, where Charlie Daniels, Dan Gosling and Adrian Mariappa will take temporary charge of team affairs.
The former Valencia manager had enjoyed a promising start to his second tenure, winning eight and losing just three of his first 16 matches in charge after replacing Paulo Pezzolano in October. However, results deteriorated significantly since the start of January, with Watford failing to secure victory in their last four league games.
Gracia’s frustration had become increasingly apparent following the Swansea defeat, when he expressed disappointment with both the team’s performance level and their current situation. He had specifically requested discussions with ownership about the club’s direction, hinting at concerns over the lack of transfer activity during the January window.
BBC 3CR sports editor Geoff Doyle suggested the resignation had been “brewing since the beginning of January” when Gracia’s hopes for experienced reinforcements went unfulfilled. The manager had previously led Watford to 11th in the Premier League and an FA Cup final during his first spell at the club.
