Xisco Munoz: Watford appoint Dinamo Tbilisi boss as head coach

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Xisco MunozImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Xisco Munoz played for four clubs in La Liga, and another two in the Spanish second tier

Watford have appointed Xisco Munoz as their new head coach after the sacking of Vladimir Ivic.

The Spaniard joins the Championship club from Georgian top-flight side Dinamo Tbilisi.

Former Valencia, Levante and Real Betis winger Xisco, 40, becomes the Hornets' fifth manager in just over a year.

Ivic was sacked on Saturday with Watford fifth in the Championship, four points off second-placed Bournemouth and nine behind leaders Norwich.

The Serb, 43, had taken charge of the Hornets in August on an initial one-year deal.

Watford have not disclosed the length of Xisco's contract.

He will be joined at Vicarage Road by Roberto Cuesta and Jorge Abella, who have been appointed as assistant coach and strength and conditioning coach respectively.

Antonello Brambilla, who was already on the staff of the club, moves into the role of first-team goalkeeping coach.

Watford's managerial changes

Javi Gracia was replaced in September 2019 by Quique Sanchez Flores, who was returning for a second spell in charge.

Flores lost his job after picking up just two wins in 12 matches, and with the club bottom of the Premier League, Nigel Pearson took over in December.

He pulled Watford out of the relegation zone, and they also inflicted a first league defeat of the season on eventual runaway champions Liverpool, 3-0 at Vicarage Road on 29 February.

But Pearson was sacked after losing 3-1 at West Ham with the club still three points above the drop with two games to go.

Under caretaker manager Hayden Mullins, the Hornets then lost their last two games, to be relegated back to the Championship after five seasons in the top flight.

Since Watford's Italian owners the Pozzo family, who also own Udinese and Granada, took control of the club in June 2012, there have been 13 changes of manager.

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