Watford: Beppe Sannino named as head coach

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Beppe Sannino

Watford have named Beppe Sannino as their new head coach, following Gianfranco Zola's resignation.

Sannino, 56, has never previously worked outside of Italy and Watford is his 13th managerial role, having also taken charge of clubs including Siena, Palermo and Chievo Verona.

The Italian will be joined by assistant coaches Francesco Troise, Giovanni Cusatis and Paolo De Toffol.

Watford are currently 13th in the Championship table.

The club later confirmed assistant coaches Dodo Sormani and Bastiano Porcu had left the club and would not be working alongside Sannino.

Zola's departure on Monday followed a run of just one win in 10 matches, including five straight home defeats.

When the Italian Pozzo family took over at Vicarage Road in June 2012, their stated aim was to take the Hornets back up to the Premier League and they named the former Chelsea and Italy forward as manager shortly after buying the club.

They narrowly missed out on promotion under Zola last season, finishing third and losing the play-off final against Crystal Palace 1-0 thanks to Kevin Phillips's extra-time penalty.

With the club now 17 points below leaders Queens Park Rangers and eight points away from the play-off places, Sannino will be expected to turn the team's form around, starting at Ipswich on Saturday.

His coaching career began in the 1990s, but he had to wait until 2011 for his first chance in Serie A, when he was appointed by Siena.

He then moved on to Palermo, who subsequently sacked and re-hired him in the space of six months, and most recently had only four months with Chievo before being relieved of his role.

Sannino's arrival at Watford continues the club's close ties with Italian football, where the Pozzo family also own Serie A side Udinese.

Last season, they took advantage of the connection, bringing in 10 Udinese players on loan, which prompted a tightening of the rules surrounding overseas loans by the Football League.

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  • As a Watford fan and ST holder, this appointment is somewhat underwhelming. However, unlike the Vincent Tans and Dr Allams of this world, the Pozzo family have turned two third-tier continental clubs into top division clubs. Udinese have been under their ownership for nearly 30 years, are sustainably run, and do not live outside of their means. We trust the owners to make the right choices.

  • Never heard of him personally, BUT I had never heard of Pochettino before we ( Southampton ) hired him and hes doing a great job, im sure the Watford owners know what they are doing.

    Best of luck to Giuseppe Sannino and Watford

  • I've never heard of him before, but it's disappointing to see yet another foreign manager with little to no success being given a job over a young English manager.

  • "English players and managers come at a premium and they're simply not worth it."

    Because every foreign signing has been cheap and amazing. You only have to look at Tottenham's £100m flops to see that, not mention the likes of Fellaini, Jovetic, Willian etc.

  • I can see why people might be disappointed that a young english manager wasn't appointed, but what did you expect? Watford are owned by the Pozzo family, of course they're going to hire an Italian manager. It's not really a surprise.

  • It would have been nice to see a young English manager appointed.

  • @ ESG

    Fortunately for you I look at places other than gossip boards for my FACTS. At the end of the day if he was decent in either role he would still be there or in a better role having performed so well. Sam took the Hammers to the Prem and finished 12th in his first season. Very decent manager.
    Zola is never a name linked with a top (or half decent) job because....you guessed it..average!!

  • I wonder if the owners are planning to change the club name too?

    Watfortino just rolls off the tongue :D

  • Although had a successful season previously, a team filled with mainly (foreign) loanees is not likely to lead to long term sustainability and I think they have been found wanting when things are not going right.

  • One question, why? A manager with an unimpressive CV, no knowledge of English football, and lacking even the pedigree of a 'nearly man'. It's obvious Zola jumped before he was pushed, and if I was a Watford fan I'd be more worried now than before he went.

    @king Red, I do. LFC are the most obnoxious, toxic, club in English football. Their success is roared on by the establishment, nuff said.

  • Another new manager... *rolls eyes* - how much will the compensation be this time round?
    "The only way young managers will develop is if they’re given a chance, 1 year is the minimum length of time to impose a style and philosophy on your club. If after a year it’s not right, you part company, easy."
    http://t12thman.wordpress.com/2013/12/17/491/ - 10 Things To Change In Football.

  • @68 - I think his comment was aimed at the fact they changed the name to "Red Bull Salzburg" and its similarities to "Hull Tigers".
    @76 Not sure if ur being ironic or just got it wrong, but Di Matteo got sacked from WBA. Zola also kept West Ham up & it was Grant that got them down.
    Surprised there has been no mention of cfc's humiliation last night? Surely Mourinho's position must be on line?

  • You have to wonder how much of a interview/selection process took place.

    II know the owners are Italian, the last manager was Italian and the new one is....maybe I am over-simplifying it!

    He could be great, I don't know, but you have to think there are managers who know the league and would stand a better chance of getting in the play-offs this year.

  • wonder where Watford would be now if they had kept Dyche - probably mid table in the Premier League..

  • @41. You sacked Sean Dyche for no reason and now look at him. There's hardly any English managers in the PL and how long till the Championship is the same? I've never known a country to be so obsessed with foreign managers or players as much as England is.

  • his managerial record doesn't look that good

    IMO it was too quick of an appointment.

  • Expect to see a succession of Italian fringe players coming into the Watford squad. Sannino has never worked anywhere other than Italy & is unlikely to know the English set up.

    It kinda worked for them last season & it's a shame that Zola felt that he couldn't continue.

  • I'm not sure Watford can be criticised for not giving young British managers a chance! We gave Aidy Boothroyd, Brendan Rodgers and Malky Mackay their first managerial jobs!

  • What I would say is that this manager's last two jobs started and ended in this calendar year, but before that, he was renowned for getting teams promoted. He was Lecco manager when they gained a surprise promotion to the Serie C1!

    Also, took over from Antonio Conte at Siena, so if I was a Watford fan, I wouldn't be too worried, the owners seem to know what they're doing unless some other clubs..

  • DID - lol what? Every post is either to encourage a bit from (esg,King Red or the others) I did mention AFC yesterday and apologised for doing so, it was in retort to that bafoon GoonerS? Ey im not knocking, you are entitled to waste your 10 mins and characters on what you want :-)

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