Latest news with #PauloPezzolano
Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hornets add Dons friendly to Championship preparations
Watford have added a third pre-season friendly as part of their preparations for the new Championship season. The Hornets will face League One newcomers AFC Wimbledon at Wealdstone's Grosvenor Vale ground on Saturday, July 12, kick-off 3pm. Advertisement AFC Wimbledon celebrate their play-off triumph at Wembley (Image: PA) Having finished fifth in the League Two table, former Vicarage Road loanee Johnnie Jackson's side clinched their return to the third tier by beating Walsall 1-0 in the Play-Off Final at Wembley. The match will take place four days after Paulo Pezzolano's men face Boreham Wood in their first scheduled pre-season friendly at Meadow Park on Tuesday, July 8 (kick-off 7.30pm). Watford are also due to face another League One side, Leyton Orient, at Brisbane Road on Saturday, July 26 (kick-off 3pm). The Hornets have stated 'several' behind closed doors friendlies will also take place at London Colney ahead of the start of the new campaign on the weekend of Saturday, August 9.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New left-back deal close but striker remains summer priority
Talks with a new left-back are at an advanced stage – but Watford's priority in the summer transfer market is a striker. Although Caleb Wiley is expected to return to Vicarage Road on a season-long loan from Chelsea during the summer, with Yasser Larouci returning to his parent club at the end of his loan, the Hornets need another left-sided option. They are close to securing exactly that, as the club move quicker and earlier in the market than at any other time under the Pozzo ownership. It's understood to be another sign that the owner is now focussed on Watford, backing up his talk of challenging for the play-offs and promotion by bringing in new players as soon as possible for new head coach Paulo Pezzolano to work with. The owner also said in his recent statement that retaining the players currently at the club was highly important, and with news emerging last week that Wiley and fellow defender James Abankwah would most likely be back next season – the latter expected to join permanently from Udinese – it's clear the Hornets are very keen to retain the squad that ended last season. Obviously that would also mean keeping hold of the likes of Player of the Season Imran Louza, Georgian international Giorgi Chakvetadze, and forward Kwadwo Baah. That will be more severely put to the test when the transfer window opens on June 1 and any potential offers start to come in. , then close temporarily before reopening again. This has been to accommodate the FIFA Club World Cup which starts in America in keeping their best players, though, the club have recognised the need for a new striker and are keen to make a permanent signing in that area of the pitch – though they would also be open to taking a young Premier League player on loan if the right option became available. The problem with the latter is that top-flight clubs generally take large squads with them on pre-season tours, and will only consider loaning out those they view as surplus to requirements once they are back. That can often mean loan signings have to be made at the end of the summer transfer window and the Hornets are keen to get as much of their business done sooner rather than later. Sale of Udinese is progressing Midfielder close to Watford return Mileta Rajovic will return to London Colney this summer after his loan spell with Brondby in Denmark, and young Mali international Mamadou Doumbia did plenty to further his cause in the last few months of last season. However, it is believed that neither is viewed as first-choice, hence the club seeking to find the ideal No.9 for new head coach Paulo Pezzolano. That particular position has, though, become one of the hardest to find for recruitment teams at all levels. Already a number of names have been flying around on social media, including West Ham's Danny Ings, but The Watford Observer understands he is not under consideration at all. Watford were scarred last season with the highly unsuccessful loan move of Bournemouth striker Daniel Jebbison. The Canada international was signed while Rajovic was heading back to Denmark, but Jebbison rarely looked like the answer in attack and his spell at Vicarage Road was cut short at the start of this year. One move understood to be close to completion is the signing of goalkeeper Nathan Baxter, who has been allowed to leave League One side Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer. Final paperwork is being finished off and the deal could be announced early next week.
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Watford sign ex-Peterborough midfielder Kyprianou
Watford have signed midfielder Hector Kyprianou on a five-year deal following the expiry of his contract with Peterborough 23-year-old Cyprus international joins on a free transfer and is the Hornets' first signing since the appointment of Uruguayan Paulo Pezzolano as head coach, Kyprianou made 140 appearances for Peterborough, scoring 16 goals, including the second in their 2-0 EFL Vertu Trophy final win over Birmingham City at Wembley in deal will be completed on 1 June."It's a historic club, a massive club that matches my ambitions, which is to play as high as possible and to reach the Premier League," Kyprianou told the club website., external"One of the reasons I joined is that they showed quite a lot of interest in me for a while, and for me that adds a lot of value."To know that they wanted me is a huge positive. Paulo sent me a message to say 'welcome' and we're looking forward to working with each other."Kyprianou spent time in Tottenham Hotspur's youth set-up before making the short move to join Leyton Orient in made his English Football League debut in December of that year and played 79 games for Orient before being sold to Peterborough for an undisclosed fee three years ago. His senior international debut came against Norway in 2023 and he has won 10 Cyprus caps so far."Once the season ended, we asked Peterborough for permission to speak to Hector and we thank them for their cooperation in agreeing to this," said Watford sporting director Gian Luca Nani."Hector fits the demands Paulo has for his players - intensity and a high technical and tactical awareness."Watford finished 14th in the Championship this season, which led to the sacking of former head coach Tom Cleverley.
BBC News
14-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Pezzolano promises 'clear identity' for Hornets
New Watford head coach Paulo Pezzolano says building "a clear identity" is his first priority after being appointed to replace Tom Uruguayan has achieved promotions as a head coach in Spain, Brazil and his home country and Watford says he also has an impressive track record of working with young players."I know what this club stands for – its history, its people. It's a big responsibility and a challenge that truly motivates me. I arrive full of energy and eager to work, to build a competitive team that embodies Watford's values," he told the club website., external"Football is lived here with unique intensity – full stadiums, a rich football culture. For any coach, working in England is a dream. I approach it with humility but also great determination."Pezzolano is an advocate of the high press style favoured by so many modern coaches but wants the team to play with "order, balance, and courage".He added: "The fans will see a team they can identify with – one that fights, competes and plays with identity."There have been very few Uruguayan managers/head coaches in English football, but Pezzolano follows the likes of Gus Poyet (Brighton and Sunderland) and further back Danny Bergara (Rochdale, Stockport and Rotherham).Watford finished 14th under Cleverley this season, 11 points short of the play-off places.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Patchy CV and no Championship experience'
Earlier we asked for your views on the appointment of Uruguayan Paulo Pezzolano as the new Watford boss. Here's a selection of typical responses from Hornets fans. Stewart: A typical Pozzo appointment - a foreign coach with zero experience in the Championship. Squad has some promising youngsters but needs a hefty investment in some fresh blood and letting go some of the older dead wood. Sadly this ownership's approach is testing the loyalty of some of its most ardent supporters. Good luck to him but my expectations are low this season sadly. He won't get the investment he needs to make a success of this team John: The owners have no track record in recent years of appointing successful managers but I guess the more you change them then statistically one could be successful. My concern would be his lack of experience in this country or the Championship with its relentless nature. Gerry: We needed an experienced coach who can work with a young squad. I wish him very well. Robbie: Who? It doesn't really matter how happy we are with them because if the owners are serious about wanting to challenge for promotion when we seemingly don't have the finances to make the necessary additions to the squad to enable this, then they'll be on their way when we are (hopefully) mid-table or worse, halfway through next season. Dave: Lots of fans saying 'don't care, don't want him'. How about give him a chance and when it does or doesn't work have your say then? Yes I agree sacking Clevs was dumb and a stupid move. But it's done now. Move on and get behind the team and let's see what happens. Graham: A patchy CV at best, most recently ending in failure and no EFL experience vs Tom Cleverley, eight years with WFC as player, captain, coach and manager. Enough said. After 50-plus years as a supporter, I'm done with the club until Pozzo leaves. Paul: I'll give him a chance. It seems as though the board has built him up as more than he may be. All the candidates seem to have lost their jobs after very few games. Not promising. We will wait and see for the next manager to arrive. Stephen A: It doesn't matter who the manager is if Pozzo doesn't back him and strengthen the squad. And, assuming he isn't backed, he will be sacked long before the season ends and we will be in severe danger of swapping places with Luton at the end of the season. Beth: It's clear the aim is promotion with this new appointment. But instant results have been the thorn in our side for a long time. I'm not pleased at all with Cleverley's dismissal and although he wasn't replaced the same day as has happened in the past, I'm not ready to accept a new coach yet. But if we bring in decent players this summer then I can be open to seeing how this new coach gets on. Stephen: I am unsure if he has the credentials to succeed in the Championship. The current squad is short of the required elements of a good Championship side as well. He will need a lot of help and some good additions if Pozzo really wants Premier League football back at the Vic. Steve: Never heard of him! Time will tell, I'm not holding my breath any more. Supported this club for 60 years and have never felt so unconnected with it.
