Watford Football Club has confirmed the appointment of Alessio Dionisi as their new head coach, signing a two-year contract. The 46-year-old Italian takes the helm following the departure of Ed Still, who was sacked on 3 May after less than three months in charge at Vicarage Road. Still's final match saw Watford suffer a significant 4-0 defeat to Coventry City, contributing to their 16th-place finish in the Championship, a considerable 16 points shy of the play-off positions.
Dionisi’s appointment marks a continuation of a high turnover rate for the club, as he becomes the 12th head coach, excluding interim managers, since the conclusion of the 2020-21 season. Since the Pozzo family acquired the club in 2012, Dionisi is the 24th individual to hold the top coaching role. Sporting director Gianluca Nani expressed satisfaction with the appointment, stating that Dionisi had been 'on our radar for a long period' and fulfilled the club's criteria for an 'experienced coach who has won leagues and been promoted.'
While Dionisi was dismissed by Serie B club Empoli in March after just five months, following a run of five wins in 22 matches, his previous track record includes success. He guided Empoli to the Serie B title in the 2020-21 season before moving to Sassuolo. Watford has now finalised an agreement with Empoli regarding his existing contract, which was set to run until late 2027. This move signifies Dionisi's tenth managerial role in a 12-year career, and his first outside of Italy.
Dionisi will bring Luca Vigiani, who previously worked under former Watford boss Walter Mazzarri, back to Vicarage Road as an analyst. Fabio Spighi will also join as the new head of physical performance. Nani further commented on Dionisi's suitability, stating, 'He is an excellent coach, who we believe has the credentials to get the best out of the players we have in the squad and those we want to add.' Dionisi becomes the first Italian to manage Watford since Claudio Ranieri, who was in charge during the 2021-22 season when the club was last in the Premier League.
The club's chief executive, Scott Duxbury, acknowledged the recent struggles in a statement on the club website last month, describing the end to the previous campaign as 'unacceptable' and 'truly disappointing in the extreme.' The turbulent season saw the club go through three permanent head coaches, alongside a two-game interim spell, following the dismissal of Tom Cleverley. Dionisi now faces the challenge of stabilising the squad and improving their performance in the upcoming Championship season.