January 25, (THEWILL) – Roy Hodgson has agreed to take over as Watford’s interim manager until the end of the season.
As THEWILL reported, Claudio Ranieri was fired on Monday evening after only three and a half months in command and he will be replaced by the 74-year-old. Ray Lewington, a long-time assistant, will assist him.
This afternoon, the two will meet players and participate in training.
Hodgson left Crystal Palace at the end of the 2020-21 season, having led the club to Premier League survival in each of his four years in charge.
Watford are looking for their third permanent head coach of the season, after Xisco Munoz was fired on October 3 by owner Gino Pozzo, with the Hertfordshire team 14th in the league.
In 2001, Hodgson temporarily worked for the Pozzos at Udinese in Italy.
Ranieri was fired following Watford’s 3-0 loss to relegation rivals Norwich City on Friday night, leaving the Hornets in 18th place, just three points off the bottom of the table.
During his time in charge, he only managed to win seven points, with the highlight being a 4-1 victory over Manchester United at Vicarage Road in November. Watford has only picked one point since then, a 1-1 draw against fellow strugglers Newcastle on January 15.
Hodgson has formerly managed England and Finland, as well as English clubs Liverpool, Fulham, West Bromwich Albion, Blackburn Rovers, and Bristol City.
In May 2012, he took over as England manager from Fabio Capello. England reached the quarter-finals of Euro 2012, failed to advance to the knockout stages of the 2014 World Cup, and were knocked out of Euro 2016 in the round of 16 by Iceland.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
