Watford CONFIRM appointment of Roy Hodgson as their new manager as the 74-year-old replaces Claudio Ranieri and returns to the game after leaving Crystal Palace at the end of last season
- Watford have confirmed the appointment of Roy Hodgson as their new manager
- The club sacked Claudio Ranieri on Monday after just 16 weeks in charge
- Hodgson has been out of a job since leaving Crystal Palace last summer
- He will look to help the Hornets escape the relegation zone this season
Watford have confirmed the appointment of Roy Hodgson as their new manager.
The former England boss will be joined at Vicarage Road by assistant Ray Lewington, who managed the Hornets from 2002 until 2005.
Watford, who sit in the Premier League relegation zone, sacked Claudio Ranieri on Monday after only 16 weeks in charge following a nine-game run without a win.
Roy Hodgson has been confirmed as Watford’s new manager after replacing Claudio Ranieri
Sportsmail reported on Monday that the club had got in contact with the 74-year-old to see if he would be interested in taking on the role.
Hodgson left Crystal Palace at the end of last season and has been contemplating whether to return to the game.
He arrives at a club who sit 19th in the Premier League, after taking just seven points from Ranieri’s time in charge at Vicarage Road.
Hodgson is the club’s third manager of the season after the Pozzo family, who own Watford, dismissed Xisco Munoz on October 3.
Munoz left Watford 14th in the league but they have been in freefall since Ranieri’s arrival.
Watford’s players and staff were made aware of Hodgson’s arrival late on Monday night.
Training was scheduled for 2pm on Tuesday afternoon with the experienced manager addressing his new players before taking the session.
Claudio Ranieri left the club after taking just seven points during his time in charge
Hodgson will be given the task of keeping Watford up with the club currently in the relegation zone
Hodgson and Lewington begin preparations immediately for Watford’s next Premier League fixture which is away to Burnley on Saturday, February 5.
Speaking about his departure from the club, Ranieri told Sky Sports News: ‘I’m not used to speaking after this (type of scenario) that happened, but I wish only good luck to Watford: to the fans, to the board, everything.
‘That’s football but I believe that these three new players, Watford can be safe. Also arrives a fantastic manager (sic).’
Former Crystal Palace boss Hodgson will commit to the club until the end of the season and then review whether he will head into next season at the helm in the summer.
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