Oscar Garcia: Watford name ex-Brighton boss as head coach

Garcia scored 21 goals for Barcelona in 69 appearances over six season

Watford have named former Brighton boss Oscar Garcia as their new head coach following Beppe Sannino's resignation.

Garcia, 41, led the Seagulls to the play-off semi-finals last year, but following their defeat by Derby he had his offer of resignation accepted.

Meanwhile, Watford's technical director Gianluca Nani resigned on Tuesday.

"I feel it is the right time for me to leave the club and I'm looking now for new challenges elsewhere," Nani told the club website.

Nani, who joined Watford in July 2012, alongside then head coach Gianfranco Zola and current chief executive Scott Duxbury, added: "It's a decision I've had in my mind for some time now.

"But I was asked to ensure everything was complete in terms of the squad and the transfer market towards the end of August. This is something I was very, very happy to do.

"I believe the squad is now competitive and together we have done a great job to achieve this."

New head coach Garcia resigned from his post as coach of Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv, for a second spell, in August after just two months in charge.

Along with his assistants Ruben Martinez and Fran Sanchez, the Spaniard cited the current security situation as his reason for leaving Maccabi.

In his first spell with the club, during the 2012-13 season, Garcia led the Israeli side to their first title in 10 years, earning them a place in the Champions League.

The former attacking midfielder enjoyed a relatively successful first season managing in England, while in charge of Brighton, leading them to sixth in Championship, but the Seagulls suffered a 6-2 aggregate play-off semi-final defeat by Derby.

Garcia enjoyed a lengthy and successful career in the La Liga, spending eight years with Barcelona and four years with Espanyol, as well as having one-year spells with Valencia and Lleida.