Championship side Watford have appointed Paulo Pezzolano as their new head coach, following the dismissal of Tom Cleverley after a disappointing 14th-place finish last season.
The 42-year-old Uruguayan, previously in charge of Spanish club Real Valladolid, becomes Watford’s 18th permanent manager since Gianfranco Zola’s departure in December 2013.
Pezzolano started his coaching career at Torque City in Uruguay, and went on to manage in Mexico and Brazil before joining Valladolid in 2023. He guided them to promotion to La Liga in 2024, but was let go in November as the team struggled near the bottom of the league.
Watford sporting director Gian Luca Nani praised Pezzolano’s experience developing young talent, calling him the right fit for a youthful squad. “We believe Paulo is the leader we need as we refocus ahead of the new season,” Nani said. “He understands our promotion ambitions and is ready for the challenge.”
Nani also compared the appointment to past successful coaching hires like Slavisa Jokanovic, Javi Gracia, and Xisco Munoz.
