Watford have appointed Paulo Pezzolano as their new head coach following Tom Cleverley’s sacking.
Cleverley was axed last week after finishing 14th in the Championship and 11 points off the play-off places.
Pezzolano has won promotions in Uruguay, Brazil and most recently Spain, guiding Real Valladolid to La Liga last year.
A club statement read: “The Uruguayan, 42, has carved out a reputation as a promotion specialist, having reached the top divisions in Spain, Brazil and Uruguay, and has a rich pedigree of working with young players and establishing a clear playing identity.”
“Paulo has a hugely impressive track record working with young players, which is essential when you look at the age profile of our squad,” sporting director Gian Luca Nani added.
“He has had success at virtually every club, including league titles and promotions, but it is his work on the training ground that impressed the most when we undertook our research.
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“He has innovative ideas and processes which he transmits passionately to the players. We believe Paulo is the leader we need as we refocus ahead of the new season.
“He is fully aware of our ambitions and determination to push for promotion and embraces that challenge.
“The club achieved great success when making similar appointments in Slaviša Jokanović, Javi Gracia and Xisco Muñoz, and we hope our fans welcome Paulo and wish him every success as we try to achieve the owner’s clear aim of challenging for a return to the Premier League.”
Pezzolano becomes the 12th head coach at Vicarage Road since Javi Gracia departed in 2019 and the ninth since the end of the 2020/21 campaign.
Cleverley spent longer in the hot seat than most of his predecessors in recent years, lasting 13 months in charge.
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