Watford appoint Xisco Muñoz as new head coach after Ivic sacking | Watford

Watford have announced the appointment of Xisco Muñoz as their new head coach – just a day after sacking Vladimir Ivic.

Muñoz was described as having “an attacking philosophy to his coaching” in Watford’s statement confirming the 40-year-old Spaniard’s appointment. A statement on the Hornets website said: “Watford FC is pleased to confirm the appointment of Xisco Muñoz as head coach.

“The 40-year-old Spaniard – with an attacking philosophy to his coaching – was most recently manager at Dinamo Tbilisi, where he guided the club to a second successive Georgian league title in 2020.”

Muñoz, who has been assistant at the Spanish clubs Gimnàstic and Pobla Mafumet, is a former winger who played for a number of clubs including Valencia, where he was a La Liga and Uefa Cup winner in 2003-04.

Watford confirmed Ivic’s Vicarage Road departure just hours after their 2-0 Championship defeat at Huddersfield on Saturday. Watford’s fourth defeat of the league season proved Ivic’s undoing, with the Hertfordshire club’s ninth manager in five years the latest to leave after a short tenure.

Watford sit fifth in the Championship table after 20 matches, in their bid for an immediate Premier League return.