Paulo Pezzolano's reign as Watford manager lasted just ten games as the Uruguayan looks set to be relieved of his duties. He will become the 20th managerial change in ten seasons at Vicarage Road as we look ahead to see who his successor will be and where the value lies in the next Watford manager odds.
For any other club, the news of Pezzolano’s departure would be pretty shocking, given that Watford have got off to a decent start in the Championship, picking up 12 points from their opening ten matches. But if there’s one thing we know about the hierarchy at the club, it is that patience is merely an eight-letter noun, with little to no grasp of the concept.
Just two losses from the last eight games in charge for Paulo Pezzolano have been deemed sub-par, and rumours are already circulating about his replacement.
Latest Odds for Next Watford Manager
As a well-established Championship club, the list of names that will be keen to embark on that rollercoaster ride is substantial. We’ve got a preview of the next Watford manager odds from the best betting sites below, with Javi Gracia tipped to make a surprise return.
INFO
The odds below are not sourced from a specific bookmaker, but rather predictions that we’ve created and converted into implied probabilities.
| Manager | Odds | Implied probability |
|---|---|---|
| Javi Gracia | 1/1 | 50% |
| Sean Dyche | 4/1 | 20% |
| García Pimienta | 5/1 | 16.7% |
| Alberto Garrido | 5/1 | 16.7% |
| Quique Sánchez Flores | 8/1 | 11.1% |
| Diego Alonso | 10/1 | 9.1% |
| Slaviša Jokanović | 12/1 | 7.7% |
| Luis García Plaza | 14/1 | 6.7% |
| Vladimir Ivić | 16/1 | 5.9% |
| Tom Cleverley | 18/1 | 5.3% |
*Odds correct as of 11:55 BST on 07/10/2025. Odds subject to change.
Javi Gracia
The early murmurs around the next Watford manager suggest that a move for Javi Gracia to return is on the cards. It would be the Spaniard’s second stint after taking charge in January 2018, before leading the club to the FA Cup final just five months later. Interestingly, since 2013, no manager has overseen more games at Watford (66) than Gracia.
His CV is impressive, featuring stints at Valencia, Leeds United, and Al Sadd, as well as securing an 11th-place finish with Watford in the Premier League. The owners aren’t afraid of rekindling old relationships either, something they’ve done with the likes of Graham Taylor, Malky Mackay, and Hayden Mullins in the past.
Sean Dyche
It feels like Sean Dyche has been linked with every managerial opening since he was sacked at Everton in January 2025. His ties with the club make him an exciting option, having played (and captained) between 2002 and 2005 before being appointed as head coach from 2011 to 2012, securing 11th in the Championship.
Dyche has, however, been heavily linked with the next Rangers manager post, so he will have to weigh up if this is the right move for him. He brings huge Championship experience, having secured two promotions with Burnley (2014 and 2016). The volatility of the ownership might be a sticking point for Dyche if he’s looking for something a little more secure.
García Pimienta
Former Sevilla head coach, García Pimienta, would likely be a dream appointment for the Hornets. He parted ways with the La Liga outfit in April 2025 and would bring an exciting, possession-focused style to Vicarage Road. He’d be more than just a fire-fighter for the purpose of maintaining Championship status, with the board desperate for a return to the Premier League.
He might land as an outsider in the next Watford manager odds, but the Spaniard would be a significant appointment given his pedigree and background.
