Watford appoint Edward Still as head coach

Championship side Watford have appointed Edward Still as their head coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract.

Still takes over at Vicarage Road following the resignation of Javi Gracia after only three months in charge.

The 35-year-old, who is the older brother of former Southampton boss Will Still, was previously assistant manager at Belgian club Anderlecht.

“I’m so thrilled and proud to be here. This is a club which has a big place in English football and a fantastic history,” he said.

“All of the focus will be on winning games as quickly as possible and getting the best out of the players.

“Fans can expect our team to be aggressive, really compact defensively and attack with pace.”

Still has managerial experience in the Belgian Pro League with Charleroi, KAS Eupen and KV Kortrijk.

He has also previously worked as assistant to his younger brother Will at French club Lens, guiding them to an eight-place finish in Ligue 1 in 2024-25.

“Ed’s appointment was made on the conviction that this is a coach whose modern and progressive coaching methods fit perfectly with our squad dynamic, who we believe will take the team forward, and who gives us a real chance to challenge for the play-offs,” said Watford chairman and chief executive Scott Duxbury.

Former Bournemouth defender Charlie Daniels, who has been interim boss at Vicarage Road for the past two matches, will take on the role of first-team coach alongside Karim Belhocine.

“We are delighted Charlie Daniels has accepted Ed’s invitation to be part of his coaching staff, as we are really grateful for the job and work he did in the interim period,” said Duxbury.

“He quickly earned the respect of the technical department and the players, and his promotion maintains that link with the academy.”

Still becomes Watford’s third head coach this season with Paulo Pezzolano lasting only 10 games at the start of the campaign prior to Gracia’s reappointment, having previously left in 2019.

The Hornets also had three bosses in the same season in 2021-2022 when Xisco Munoz, Claudio Ranieri and Roy Hodgson took charge, and again in the following campaign when Rob Edwards, Slaven Bilic and Chris Wilder held the job.

Analysis – Geoff Doyle, BBC Three Counties Radio sports editor

I think this could be described as a pretty left-field appointment given Watford are only three points from the play-off positions and Ed Still has no British, let alone Championship, management experience.

He has worked in Belgium for the majority of his coaching career and with his brother Will in France at Lens.

Chief executive Scott Duxbury speaks of the young squad Watford have and the hope they will identify with Still, so the Hornets hierarchy are banking on him forming a good relationship with this youthful set at Vicarage Road to get them back on track.