Watford sack head coach Slaven Bilic

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 07 March 2023

Championship club Watford confirm that they have parted company with head coach Slaven Bilic.

Watford have confirmed that they have parted company with head coach Slaven Bilic.

The Hornets started the 2022-23 campaign with Rob Edwards in charge, only to sack their recent appointment after just 11 matches.

Bilic was quickly chosen as the replacement, the Croatian tasked with keeping the club in the promotion hunt whether that through the top two or the playoffs.

However, while the 54-year-old has lasted 15 more games than his predecessor, the Watford hierarchy have decided to sack a second boss within the space of six months.

A statement read: "The Hornets had won just once in the last eight Sky Bet Championship games under the Croatian head coach – part of a run which included just three wins since Christmas."

Watford manager Slaven Bilic on October 8, 2022 © Reuters

Technical director Ben Manga added: "We are all ambitious to succeed this season, so something new is needed quickly while the opportunity of promotion is still real.

"With the January transfer window over, to change coach is the only option available to re-energise for the final games ahead."

Edwards was removed from his position in the dugout having collected a total of 14 points from 10 fixtures in the Championship, Watford sitting 10th and one point adrift of the top six.

By comparison, Bilic has delivered 37 points from 25 league matches, the Hertfordshire-based outfit now ninth in the standings but six points behind the playoff positions.

Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder on August 10, 2022 © Reuters

Watford have since appointed former Sheffield United and Middlesbrough boss Chris Wilder on a deal until the end of the season.

Wilder has been out of work since losing his position at Middlesbrough in October, a result of the North East outfit struggling at the bottom of the table.

During his time at Sheffield United, the 55-year-old delivered promotion from League One and the Championship before almost securing European qualification for the Blades through the Premier League in 2019-20.

Wilder will take charge of his first match when Watford make the short trip to face Queens Park Rangers on March 11.