3 Months Of Coaching Take Watford To Relegation Zone, Ranieri Is Fired

Claudio Ranieri (Twitter @watfordfc)

JAKARTA - Watford sacked head coach Claudio Ranieri on Monday after a three-month spell in charge of poor results. Watford is stuck in the Premier League relegation zone.

The last time Ranieri took charge as coach was when Watford lost 3-0 to visitors Norwich City.

"The board of 'The Hornets' recognize Claudio as a man of immense integrity and honor, who has always been respected here at Vicarage Road for his efforts to lead the team with dignity," Watford said in a statement.

"However the board feels that, with almost half of the campaign remaining in the Premier League, a change in the position of head coach will now allow sufficient time for a new appointment... to achieve the immediate goal of maintaining Premier League status."

Watford Football Club confirms the departure of Head Coach Claudio Ranieri.

The Hornets' Board recognises Claudio as a man of great integrity and honour, who will always be respected here at Vicarage Road for his efforts in leading the team with dignity.

— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) January 24, 2022

Watford, who was promoted last season, is 19th after seven defeats and a draw in their last eight games.

Ranieri, 70, has been in charge of the team since October following Xisco Munoz's departure from the club after seven games and when Watford was 14th.

Club owner Gino Pozzo is noted to have made 13 managerial changes in his nine years at the helm.

The Italian coach Ranieri was well known in England when he led Leicester City to the Premier League title in 2016 but failed to put his magic into action at Watford and picked up just seven points with the club.

The only highlight was the 4-1 win over Manchester United in November which prompted the sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Watford is Ranieri's fourth team in the Premier League, after he worked with Chelsea, Fulham, and Leicester City.