Javi Gracia Resigns As Watford Manager Amid Playoff Struggles

Watford Football Club finds itself at yet another crossroads as Javi Gracia, the experienced Spanish manager, has resigned from his post as head coach after just over three months in charge during his second spell at Vicarage Road. The resignation, confirmed on Sunday, February 1, 2026, comes on the heels of a 2-0 defeat to Swansea City, a result that further dimmed the Hornets’ hopes of an immediate promotion push back to the Premier League.

Gracia’s decision to step down was not entirely unexpected, given the growing frustration around the club’s recent form and the lack of movement in the January transfer window. Watford, who currently sit 10th in the Championship, are four points adrift of the play-off spots with a game in hand and 17 matches remaining. Despite these challenges, the club had been within touching distance of the top six, trailing Wrexham in sixth place by just four points as of his resignation.

The Spaniard’s second stint at Watford began in October 2025, following the sacking of Paulo Pezzolano, who himself lasted just 10 games. Gracia’s return was met with optimism, especially given his previous achievements with the club, including an 11th-place Premier League finish and a memorable run to the 2019 FA Cup final during his first spell from January 2018 to September 2019. However, the honeymoon period was short-lived. After enjoying a brief resurgence with three consecutive wins over the festive period, Watford’s form plummeted. The team failed to win any of their last five matches in all competitions, a run punctuated by Saturday’s loss to Swansea at Vicarage Road.

The match against Swansea saw Watford dominate the first half, creating more chances and controlling possession, but they were unable to convert their opportunities. In the second half, goals from Marko Stamenic and Josh Key handed the visitors all three points, marking Swansea’s fourth away win of the season. As the game slipped away, many Watford fans began to leave the stadium ten minutes before the final whistle—a telling sign of the mounting frustration among the supporters.

Gracia’s post-match comments revealed the depth of his disappointment. “The team was better in the first half than the second,” he said. “In the first half we had more moments where we dominated, with more arrivals and more chances. But in the second half after the first goal from a corner, in that moment we felt like we didn’t have more power to keep doing the same things we did before. In my opinion we were better in the first 45 minutes, but after the goal we were not able to compete well.” (According to BBC Three Counties Radio and TalkSport)

Following the defeat, Gracia called for a meeting with club owner Gino Pozzo, expressing concerns about the club’s direction and the state of the squad. “We are in a very difficult moment,” Gracia told BBC Three Counties Radio. “I knew before the game it could happen. Some players are injured, some players are gone, some players are coming, some players are playing with discomfort. The last results speak about the team now. I want to speak with the owner and to know how they feel because I’m really disappointed with the level of the team, the situation of the team and maybe the future of the team as well.”

His resignation was soon confirmed by the club, which released a statement: “The club is sad and disappointed to confirm the resignation of Javi Gracia as head coach. We retain the belief Javi was the right man to lead the club towards its push for promotion, but Javi felt he no longer had the motivation and was not the right man to continue coaching this exciting group of young players. We respect his decision and accept his wish to leave Vicarage Road with immediate effect.”

The club also announced that under-23s coach Charlie Daniels, along with Dan Gosling and Adrian Mariappa, would take charge for the upcoming trip to Hull City on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. The appointment of Mariappa to the interim coaching team had immediate ripple effects, forcing him to miss St Albans City’s Isthmian League Premier Division match on the same evening. St Albans City released a statement wishing him luck and looking forward to his return.

Watford’s managerial merry-go-round has become a hallmark of the Pozzo family’s ownership. Since taking control in 2012, the Pozzos have overseen the appointment of 24 different managers, with eight of those lasting fewer than 15 games. Gracia is now the 13th manager to depart in just five years, highlighting the club’s ongoing struggle for stability and long-term vision. The high turnover rate has raised questions about the club’s recruitment strategy and its reliance on a model that often prioritizes young, inexperienced players over seasoned veterans—a point of frustration for Gracia, who was reportedly keen to bolster the squad with experienced signings during the January window.

BBC 3CR sports editor Geoff Doyle noted, “This has been brewing since the beginning of January when the transfer window opened. Gracia was hoping for some experienced, senior players to add to his squad. He didn’t get them and his frustration has been building. It’s coincided with a run of four league games without a win which came off the back of four wins in a row at the end of December. At the same time injuries have kicked in and there have been some squad players Gracia simply didn’t rate. He’s indicated that he has been let down although having been at Vicarage Road before he must have known what he was letting himself in for.”

Despite the recent setbacks, Watford’s hierarchy remains optimistic. The club’s official statement emphasized, “We remain well placed in the Championship, four points off the play-offs with a game in hand and 17 matches remaining. Everybody at the club believes wholeheartedly this is a squad capable of challenging for promotion. We would like to thank Javi and his team for their work during two spells at the club. We wish him and his family the best and they will always receive the warmest of welcomes at Watford.”

Looking ahead, the Hornets face a crucial away fixture against third-placed Hull City. With Charlie Daniels, Dan Gosling, and Adrian Mariappa at the helm—at least temporarily—the pressure is on to stabilize the team and reignite their promotion challenge. The outcome of this transitional period could well determine whether Watford can overcome their managerial instability and finally achieve the consistency needed for a return to the top flight.

As the dust settles on another managerial departure, the mood at Vicarage Road is one of cautious hope mixed with lingering uncertainty. The next chapter in Watford’s turbulent story will be written on Tuesday night in Hull, where the club’s young squad will look to prove they still have the mettle for a Championship promotion fight.