Latest news with #GianLucaNani
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
New keeper makes Bachmann departure even more likely
The arrival of Nathan Baxter will almost certainly see the departure of fellow goalkeeper Dan Bachmann. Despite some confusion among fans, first-choice keeper Egil Selvik is going nowhere this summer: the Norwegian international signed a three-and-a-half year contract in January when he moved from Udinese. Advertisement That takes him through to the end of the 2027/28 season, and the club have the option to extend that by a further year. 'During the winter my contract ran out with my former club, so I was going to move,' he explained in an interview with The Watford Observer in March. 'I talked with a lot of clubs, both here in the Championship and in other places in Europe. 'Udinese came to me quite late actually, but we had good talks and they told me about the situation they have where they co-operate with Watford. 'They said there might be a possibility for me at Watford as well, it just came a bit earlier than I expected. Advertisement 'When Gian Luca Nani called me to ask about it I could have said no, but it was my decision. 'I felt good about Watford and it felt like a nice move.' Selvik's arrival in January certainly made the Hornets stronger at the back - the 27-year-old kept six clean sheets in 16 games during the second half of the season, and has firmly established himself as the man in possession of the shirt. While much attention, and indeed angst, was focussed on the club not giving Tom Cleverley an extra striker or another midfielder in the winter transfer window, they certainly provided him with a very good keeper. Advertisement And now Baxter's arrival yesterday means Watford have three senior stoppers on their books, and so the departure of Bachmann seems the anticipated solution to having one of that trio watching each game from the stands. The Hornets also have Alfie Marriott, who sat on the bench 10 times last season, and Myles Roberts – he had an impressive 21-game loan spell with Partick Thistle before spending the second half of the season at Bristol Rovers without making an appearance. Then there are the likes of Jonathan Macaulay, Gabriel Ortelli and Roraigh Browne who shared Under-21 duties last season. Bachmann, who will turn 31 next month, made 22 appearances last season but had clearly lost the trust of a lot of fans. Advertisement He signed a new five-year contract in July 2023 and was named as captain by the then head coach Valerien Ismael. His most recent appearance for the Hornets was on January 4 in the 2-1 home defeat to Sheffield United, and that could well turn out to be his last as the Austrian will understandably want to play first-team football.
The Guardian
13-05-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Watford appoint Paulo Pezzolano as 18th permanent manager since 2013
Watford have announced the appointment of Paulo Pezzolano as their new head coach. The 42-year-old Uruguayan succeeds Tom Cleverley, who was sacked on 6 May following the Hornets' disappointing 14th-place finish in the Championship. Pezzolano becomes Watford's 18th permanent manager since Gianfranco Zola left in December 2013. He began his managerial career at Uruguay's Torque City, and after spells in Mexico and Brazil he took over at Spanish club Real Valladolid, earning promotion to La Liga in 2024. 'Paulo has a hugely-impressive track record working with young players, which is essential when you look at the age profile of our squad,' Watford sporting director Gian Luca Nani told the club's official website. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion '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.'
BreakingNews.ie
07-05-2025
- Sport
- BreakingNews.ie
Watford sack Tom Cleverley after 14th-place finish in Championship
Watford have sacked head coach Tom Cleverley following a disappointing 14th-place finish in the Sky Bet Championship. The Hornets have announced that the 35-year-old, who was appointed on a permanent basis last summer after a successful spell in interim charge, has departed with the search for a replacement now under way. Advertisement Sporting Director Gian Luca Nani told the club's official website: 'We thank Tom for his service – not just in his role as head coach, but for everything he has given Watford as a player and member of staff. 'But the time has come for a change and to build on what we believe is a young and talented squad that will have benefitted from the experience of the Championship this season.' Cleverley initially took up the reins at Vicarage Road in March last year after Valerien Ismael's exit in the wake of a run of 10 league games which yielded only one win. The former Manchester United trainee, who also had spells at Everton and Watford – for whom he made 147 appearances – before retiring through injury at the age of 33 in 2023, guided Watford to a 15th-place finish. Advertisement However, hopes of a promotion drive this season evaporated after a poor conclusion to the campaign saw the Hornets lose seven of their last 11 games to slip 11 points adrift of the play-off places. Nani continued: 'It has been a privilege to work closely with Tom, to understand how he sees the game and his enthusiasm for everything here. He deserves to be recognised for this and I'm sure he will have a bright future in the game. 'Tom will always be part of Watford in recognition of all that he has achieved over so many years.' Cleverley's departure leaves the club looking for an 18th permanent boss since Gianfranco Zola left in December 2013. Advertisement A club statement added: 'There will be no further club comment until a new appointment has been made.'
Times of Oman
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Times of Oman
Watford sack Tom Cleverley, becomes 10th manager to be dismissed in five years
Watford: Watford sacked Tom Cleverley on Tuesday after the club secured just five victories in 2025 and finished 14th in the Championship. Cleverley, a former Watford player, was appointed as the club manager on an interim basis in March 2024. He was handed a full-time role after Watford lost once in seven games under his watch. However, Watford's fortune changed as they endured a mediocre run in the second half of the 2024/25 season, losing six fixtures out of nine from the beginning of the year till mid-February. Watford struggled to recover from their shambolic run and found solace towards the end. With the latest sacking, Cleverley became the 10th manager to be removed in the past five years. The Hornets stood four points shy of breaching the playoffs mark, but a solitary win in their last seven fixtures saw them end the season 11 points adrift. Club's Sporting Director Gian Luca Nani opened up about Cleverley's departure and said, as quoted from the club's official website, "We thank Tom for his service - not just in his role as Head Coach but for everything he has given Watford as a player and member of staff. But the time has come for a change and to build on what we believe is a young and talented squad that will have benefited from the experience of the Championship this season." "It has been a privilege to work closely with Tom; to understand how he sees the game and his enthusiasm for everything here. He deserves to be recognised for this, and I'm sure he will have a bright future in the game. Tom will always be part of Watford in recognition of all that he has achieved over so many years," Nani concluded. Cleverley leaves as the first coach to last more than a season since Javi Gracia was dismissed in 2019. Since 2012, Watford have appointed 21 permanent managers, and 15 of them didn't last for a full campaign. (ANI)
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
🚨 Watford announce Tom Cleverley departure
Watford have confirmed the departure of head coach Tom Cleverley following the end of the Championship season. The Hornets ended the 2024/25 campaign in 14th place with just five wins since the turn of the year. And with the Vicarage Road side hoping for a play-off berth, the former Manchester United midfielder has been given his marching orders after just over a year in charge. "We thank Tom for his service – not just in his role as Head Coach but for everything he has given Watford as a player and member of staff," Sporting Director Gian Luca Nani said. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement 'But the time has come for a change and to build on what we believe is a young and talented squad that will have benefitted from the experience of the Championship this season. 'It has been a privilege to work closely with Tom; to understand how he sees the game and his enthusiasm for everything here. He deserves to be recognised for this and I'm sure he will have a bright future in the game. 'Tom will always be part of Watford in recognition of all that he has achieved over so many years.' 📸 Dan Mullan - 2025 Getty Images
