Watford Poised to Name Edward Still as New Head Coach
Sky Sports reports indicate that Watford Football Club are closing in on the appointment of Edward Still as their new manager. The Hornets have been actively searching for a new boss since Javi Gracia resigned from his role at the beginning of February, just over three months after the Spaniard returned to the club for a second spell in charge.
Managerial Carousel Continues at Vicarage Road
The 35-year-old Still is set to become Watford's third manager of the season, following the sacking of Paulo Pezzolano after just ten games. He will take over a side currently positioned 11th in the Championship, sitting three points adrift of the play-off places.
Still's previous managerial experience has been accrued entirely within the Belgian Pro League, where he has held roles at Charleroi, Eupen, and Kortrijk. His most recent position concluded in September 2023, and his overall record stands at 24 victories from 80 matches in the dugout.
A Highly-Rated Coaching Prospect
Despite his modest win ratio, Still is considered a highly-rated coaching prospect. He previously worked alongside his younger brother, former Southampton manager Will Still, during their time at French club Lens. Their other brother, Nicolas, was also part of that coaching setup.
This season, Edward Still has been serving as the assistant manager at Anderlecht under Besnik Hasi. However, Hasi was dismissed last week, prompting the club to install Still as interim boss. His first match in temporary charge ended in a 2-0 defeat to Genk.
Navigating a Period of Turmoil
Will Still, aged 33, was also linked with the vacant role at Vicarage Road after his own dismissal by Southampton in November, following just 13 Championship matches. However, it appears his older brother Edward is expected to secure the position instead.
Since Gracia's departure, a trio of former Watford players—Dan Gosling, Adrian Mariappa, and Charlie Daniels—have taken temporary charge. They oversaw a draw against Hull City and a defeat to Southampton over the past week.
Gracia's Shock Resignation
Gracia's resignation came as a shock to fans and the club, following a five-game winless streak across all competitions. At the time, Watford released a statement expressing their 'sadness' and 'disappointment'.
The club's statement read: 'We retain the belief Javi was the right man to lead the club towards its push for promotion, but Javi felt he no longer had the motivation and was not the right man to continue coaching this exciting group of young players.'
Gracia later elaborated on his decision in a personal statement, saying: 'After deep and honest reflection, I have made the decision to voluntarily resign... Out of responsibility and personal consistency, I believe that the most honest thing to do was not to continue in a project where I could no longer contribute with full conviction.'
A New Chapter Begins
Edward Still's appointment will mark Watford's 13th permanent managerial change since the start of 2020. Some observers had previously suggested that Edward's absence from his brother Will's coaching staff at Southampton may have been a factor in Will's struggles at St Mary's.
Watford return to Championship action on Saturday with an away fixture against Preston North End, where the new managerial era is expected to begin.
