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Watford appoint Javi Gracia as head coach after sacking Marco Silva

Bongarts/Getty Images
Bongarts/Getty Images

Watford have confirmed former Malaga boss Javi Gracia as head coach following the sacking of Marco Silva.

The Hornets sacked Silva on Sunday morning following Saturday's 2-0 defeat at Leicester - a result which left the club with just one win in their last 11 Premier League games.

Watford claimed Everton's approach for Silva had been "the catalyst" for this decision, saying in a statement: "(The approach) is something which the board believes has seen a significant deterioration in both focus and results to the point where the long-term future of Watford FC has been jeopardised."

Gracia has been quickly confirmed as Silva's replacement, with a statement released on Watford's website reading: "The experienced 47-year-old, who has signed an 18-month contact with the Hornets, has previously coached clubs in his native Spain as well as Greece and Russia.

"During two seasons with Malaga he achieved back-to-back top-10 La Liga finishes, famously defeating eventual Champions League and Spanish champions Barcelona at the Camp Nou in February 2015.

"The following campaign his Malaga side went unbeaten against both Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid on their way to an impressive eighth-place 2015-16 finish.

"Having started his senior coaching career in 2007 with Segunda Division B outfit Pontevedra, Gracia secured promotion to the Spanish second-tier with Cadiz before spells in Greece with Olympiakos Volou and Kerkyra.

"In 2012-13 he once again masterminded a promotion campaign, this time returning Almeria to the Spanish top-flight before stints with Osasuna and Russian Premier League club Rubin Kazan either side of his Malaga stay.

"As a player, former Spain Under-21 international Gracia was a vastly experienced defensive midfielder who featured prominently for the likes of Real Sociedad and Villarreal."