Next Watford Manager Odds: Who Could Replace Javi Gracia At Vicarage Road?
Watford are looking for another new manager after Javi Gracia resigned following Saturday's 2-0 home defeat by Swansea.
The Spaniard’s second spell in charge of the Hornets lasted just three months and came on the back of a fourth Championship game without a win.
Former Southampton boss Will Still has been installed as the early favourite on betting sites to replace Gracia, who was unhappy with the lack of transfer activity during the January transfer window.
Gracia wanted more senior players in his squad, but decided to hand in his notice, with Watford in 10th place, just four points adrift of the top six.
There have been 22 different managers since the Pozzo family bought the club in 2012, so we look at potential contenders to become the 23rd and the latest next Watford manager odds.
— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) February 1, 2026
Still Frontrunner To Join Hornets Nest
Southampton fans were glad to see the back of Still in November, but his record in France with Reims and Lens means he still has credit in the bank.
Still won just two of his 13 games in charge of the Saints, who were immediately above the relegation zone when he left St Mary’s.
However, the 33-year-old Belgian-born Englishman had a remarkable unbeaten 14-game run in his first full season in charge of Ligue 1 side Reims, which included a couple of draws with all-conquering PSG.
Still then led Lens to eighth place in the French top flight in the 2024/25 season, before taking his first managerial appointment in England.
Despite his five-month spell on the south coast not going to plan, Still is the 2/1 favourite with one of the betting apps to fill the Vicarage Road vacancy.
Quick Return For Cifuentes?
Marti Cifuentes’ troubled spell in charge of Leicester came to an end in January, but could he be ready to get back on the managerial merry-go-round?
The Foxes paid QPR £500,000 in compensation for Cifuentes, half of which came out of the Spaniard’s pocket, so keen was he to join the Championship club.
But, six months after his appointment, Cifuentes was shown the door following a 2-1 home defeat by Oxford, his 11th loss in 29 Championship games.
Despite his reputation, Cifuentes won just 33.7% of his 83 games at Loftus Road, and questions remain about whether he would be able to get a tune out of a young Watford squad.
At least Cifuentes knows the Championship and he can be backed at 6/1 for the Hornets post.
Next Watford Manager Odds:
Manager | Odds | Probability |
Will Still | 2/1 | 33.3% |
Marti Cifuentes | 6/1 | 14.3% |
Russell Martin | 12/1 | 7.7% |
Pacheta | 12/1 | 7.7% |
Garcia Pimienta | 14/1 | 6.7% |
Diego Alonso | 14/1 | 6.7% |
Alan Sheehan | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Nathan Jones | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Jon Dahl Tomasson | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Vitor Pereira | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Gary Rowett | 16/1 | 5.9% |
David Wagner | 16/1 | 5.9% |
Martin A Contender
Russell Martin famously led Southampton back to the Premier League with a play-off final victory over Leeds, but life in the top flight proved to be a struggle.
Martin’s insistence on playing out from the back led to many costly mistakes and ultimately cost him his job at St Mary’s.
The former Norwich defender then had a disastrous and acrimonious short-lived spell as manager of Rangers, who sacked Martin in October after just 17 games in charge.
The Pozzo family, which owns Watford, will be more interested in how he performed in the Championship with Southampton and could consider a move for 12/1 shot Martin.
Pacheta A Possibility
Granada head coach Jose Rocha Martin, better known as Pacheta, was linked with the Watford job 12 months ago as a potential replacement for Tom Cleverley.
The Spaniard had reportedly agreed a two-year deal, but problems with obtaining a work permit meant the move collapsed.
Pacheta’s finest achievement was guiding Valladolid to an immediate return to La Liga in his debut 2021/22 season, although he was sacked towards the end of the following campaign after a 6-0 defeat by Real Madrid.
The former Espanyol midfielder has coached almost exclusively in Spain, aside from spells in Poland and Thailand, so a lack of experience in England may count against him and he lacks appeal at 12/1.
Spaniard Heads Outsiders
Garcia Pimienta guided Las Palmas to the Spanish top flight in the 2022/23 season which led to his appointment as Sevilla head coach, although he only lasted one season.
The Spaniard is 14/1 for the Watford job, the same price as Diego Alonso, who has enjoyed most of his managerial success in Mexico with Pachuca.
He also won the CONCACAF Champions League with Monterrey and coached Uruguay’s national team for a couple of years.
Former Swansea manager Alan Sheehan and Charlton boss Nathan Jones are both priced at 16/1.
Ex-Blackburn gaffer Jon Dahl Tomasson, last in charge of the Sweden team, and former Wolves manager Vitor Pereira are also 16/1.
Gary Rowett, recently sacked by Oxford, enjoyed excellent spells in charge of Millwall and Birmingham, and is also 16/1, along with ex-Huddersfield and Norwich boss David Wagner.
* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.
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