Topzle Topzle

Javi Gracia

Updated: Wikipedia source

Javi Gracia

Javier "Javi" Gracia Carlos (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈxaβi ˈɣɾaθja]; born 1 May 1970) is a Spanish football manager and former player who played as a defensive midfielder. He is currently the head coach of EFL Championship club Watford. He totalled 430 matches across both major levels of Spanish football, in a 15-year professional career. After retiring he began working as a manager, going on to coach several clubs in Spain, Greece and Russia before being appointed at Watford in January 2018. Gracia led Watford to their second FA Cup final in their history in 2019, but was sacked later the same year. From June 2020 to May 2021 he worked with Valencia, and a year later he won the Qatar Stars League during a brief spell at Al Sadd before managing Leeds United for three months in 2023.

Infobox

1991
Spain U21
2011
Olympiacos Volou
2023
Leeds United
Full name
Javier Gracia Carlos
Date of birth
(1970-05-01) 1 May 1970 (age 55)
Place of birth
Pamplona, Spain
Height
1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position
Defensive midfielder
Current team
Watford (manager)
1977–1982
Osasuna
Years
Team
1989–1992
Bilbao Athletic
1992–1993
Lleida
1993–1995
Valladolid
1995–1999
Real Sociedad
1999–2002
Villarreal
2003–2004
Córdoba
1989–1990
Spain U20
2004–2005
Villarreal (youth)
2007–2008
Pontevedra
2008–2010
Cádiz
2010–2011
Villarreal B
2011–2012
Kerkyra
2012–2013
Almería
2013–2014
Osasuna
2014–2016
Málaga
2016–2017
Rubin Kazan
2018–2019
Watford
2020–2021
Valencia
2021–2022
Al Sadd
2025–
Watford

Tables

Managerial record by team and tenure · Managerial statistics
P
P
Team
P
From
W
To
D
Record
L
Record
Win %
Pontevedra
Pontevedra
Team
Pontevedra
From
20 March 2007
To
30 June 2008
Record
57
Record
28
Record
19
Record
10
Record
049.12
Cádiz
Cádiz
Team
Cádiz
From
11 July 2008
To
9 January 2010
Record
63
Record
30
Record
16
Record
17
Record
047.62
Villarreal B
Villarreal B
Team
Villarreal B
From
24 June 2010
To
12 May 2011
Record
38
Record
14
Record
5
Record
19
Record
036.84
Olympiacos Volou
Olympiacos Volou
Team
Olympiacos Volou
From
7 June 2011
To
24 August 2011
Record
4
Record
3
Record
1
Record
0
Record
075.00
Kerkyra
Kerkyra
Team
Kerkyra
From
14 November 2011
To
28 March 2012
Record
21
Record
7
Record
4
Record
10
Record
033.33
Almería
Almería
Team
Almería
From
12 June 2012
To
28 June 2013
Record
50
Record
28
Record
9
Record
13
Record
056.00
Osasuna
Osasuna
Team
Osasuna
From
4 September 2013
To
30 May 2014
Record
39
Record
10
Record
11
Record
18
Record
025.64
Málaga
Málaga
Team
Málaga
From
30 May 2014
To
24 May 2016
Record
84
Record
28
Record
22
Record
34
Record
033.33
Rubin Kazan
Rubin Kazan
Team
Rubin Kazan
From
27 May 2016
To
8 June 2017
Record
34
Record
13
Record
8
Record
13
Record
038.24
Watford
Watford
Team
Watford
From
21 January 2018
To
7 September 2019
Record
66
Record
25
Record
13
Record
28
Record
037.88
Valencia
Valencia
Team
Valencia
From
27 July 2020
To
3 May 2021
Record
38
Record
10
Record
13
Record
15
Record
026.32
Al Sadd
Al Sadd
Team
Al Sadd
From
7 December 2021
To
18 June 2022
Record
22
Record
16
Record
2
Record
4
Record
072.73
Leeds United
Leeds United
Team
Leeds United
From
21 February 2023
To
3 May 2023
Record
12
Record
3
Record
2
Record
7
Record
025.00
Watford
Watford
Team
Watford
From
8 October 2025
To
Present
Record
11
Record
4
Record
4
Record
3
Record
036.36
Career total
Career total
Team
Career total
From
539
To
219
Record
129
Record
191
Record
040.63
Record
—
Team
From
To
Record
Ref.
P
W
D
L
Win %
Pontevedra
20 March 2007
30 June 2008
57
28
19
10
049.12
Cádiz
11 July 2008
9 January 2010
63
30
16
17
047.62
Villarreal B
24 June 2010
12 May 2011
38
14
5
19
036.84
Olympiacos Volou
7 June 2011
24 August 2011
4
3
1
0
075.00
Kerkyra
14 November 2011
28 March 2012
21
7
4
10
033.33
Almería
12 June 2012
28 June 2013
50
28
9
13
056.00
Osasuna
4 September 2013
30 May 2014
39
10
11
18
025.64
Málaga
30 May 2014
24 May 2016
84
28
22
34
033.33
Rubin Kazan
27 May 2016
8 June 2017
34
13
8
13
038.24
Watford
21 January 2018
7 September 2019
66
25
13
28
037.88
Valencia
27 July 2020
3 May 2021
38
10
13
15
026.32
Al Sadd
7 December 2021
18 June 2022
22
16
2
4
072.73
Leeds United
21 February 2023
3 May 2023
12
3
2
7
025.00
Watford
8 October 2025
Present
11
4
4
3
036.36
Career total
539
219
129
191
040.63
—

References

  1. In isolation, Gracia is pronounced [ˈɡɾaθja].
  2. Javi Gracia at WorldFootball.net
    https://www.worldfootball.net/player_summary/gracia/
  3. Primera
    http://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/20150511/2066015320/tecnico-gracia-cumplio-partidos-entre-jugador-y-entrenador-en-primera.html
  4. The Guardian
    https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/sep/07/watford-sack-head-coach-javi-gracia-after-poor-start-to-the-season
  5. "Gracia: "Las cifras goleadoras de Aduriz están por encima de la media""
    http://bizkaia.eldesmarque.com/athletic-club/noticias/50135-gracia-las-cifras-goleadoras-de-aduriz-estan-por-encima-de-la-media
  6. Primera
    http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20130605/hemeroteca/index.html/se-cumplen-20-anos-del-ultimo-ascenso-a-primera-de-la-ue-lleida_54375388185.html
  7. "El pasado futbolista de todos los técnicos de la Liga"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180122072029/http://www.spherasports.com/todos-fueron-futbolistas-y-ahora-entrenadores-62465/
  8. El País
    https://elpais.com/diario/1999/01/11/deportes/916009213_850215.html
  9. "Javier Gracia, nuevo técnico del Málaga Club de Fútbol"
    https://www.malagacf.com/noticia/javier-gracia-nuevo-tecnico-del-malaga-club-de-futbol
  10. "Memoria de La Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional | Temporada 2000/2001"
    https://files.laliga.es/memorias/2000-2001/MemoriaLFP_2000-01.pdf
  11. El Periódico Mediterráneo
    http://www.elperiodicomediterraneo.com/noticias/deportes/javi-gracia-berruet-presentan-cordoba_35459.html
  12. "Javi Gracia y su última tarde de fútbol en el Córdoba"
    http://cordopolis.es/2014/10/16/javi-gracia-y-su-ultima-tarde-de-futbol-en-el-cordoba/
  13. La Opinión de Málaga
    http://www.laopiniondemalaga.es/malagacf/2015/10/31/pitu-abelardo-javi-gracia-companeros/805692.html
  14. "Calleja: "Gracia es una referencia para los entrenadores que venimos de abajo""
    http://malaga.eldesmarque.com/malaga-cf/44719-calleja-gracia-es-una-referencia-para-los-entrenadores-que-venimos-de-abajo
  15. Faro de Vigo
    http://www.farodevigo.es/portada-pontevedra/2008/06/02/javi-gracia-sentare-presidente-quiero-obstaculo-club/230247.html
  16. Segunda
    http://cadiz.eldesmarque.com/noticias-cadiz/20863--sp-1714736994
  17. "El Cádiz destituye a su entrenador Javier Gracia"
    http://www.europapress.es/deportes/futbol-00162/noticia-futbol-cadiz-destituye-entrenador-javier-gracia-20100110010959.html
  18. "El excadista Javi Gracia, destituido en el Villarreal B por los malos resultados"
    http://www.lavozdigital.es/cadiz/v/20110513/deportes/mas-futbol/excadista-javi-gracia-destituido-20110513.html
  19. El Periódico Mediterráneo
    https://www.elperiodicomediterraneo.com/deportes/2011/05/31/villarreal-b-aspira-mejor-filial-42254213.html
  20. Marca
    http://www.marca.com/2011/06/07/futbol/futbol_internacional/espanoles_mundo/1307450115.html
  21. Daily Sabah
    https://www.dailysabah.com/sports/2011/07/29/olympiakos-volos-and-kavala-relegated-in-greece
  22. "Olympiacos Volou appeal rejected"
    https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01f4-0e792e210d13-7cb55611db1d-1000--olympiacos-volou-appeal-rejected/
  23. To Vima
    https://www.tovima.gr/2011/11/14/sports/anelabe-tin-texniki-igesia-tis-kerkyras-o-xabi-gkrathia/
  24. "Javi Gracia, la serenidad y el trabajo a discreción al servicio de La Rosaleda"
    https://www.vavel.com/es/futbol/malaga/355041.html
  25. "Σολάκης: "Έχω απωθημένο τη συμμετοχή στον τελικό""
    https://www.sport-fm.gr/article/podosfairo/superleague1/535994
  26. Diario AS
    http://futbol.as.com/futbol/2012/06/12/mas_futbol/1339452001_850215.html
  27. "Almería 3–0 Girona: Los andaluces, el vigésimo pasajero de Primera"
    http://www.goal.com/es/match/108798/almer%C3%ADa-vs-girona/report
  28. "Javi Gracia no seguirá entrenando al Almería"
    http://www.goal.com/es/news/27/liga-de-espa%C3%B1a/2013/06/28/4080821/javi-gracia-no-seguir%C3%A1-entrenando-al-almer%C3%ADa
  29. "La Liga: Osasuna name former Almeria boss Javi Gracia as their new coach"
    http://www1.skysports.com/news/12040/8906302/
  30. Marca
    https://as.com/futbol/2013/09/15/primera/1379268160_442661.html
  31. Segunda División
    https://cadenaser.com/programa/2014/05/18/carrusel_deportivo/1400371939_850215.html
  32. "El Real Madrid sufre pero le gana al Rayo"
    https://www.bbc.com/mundo/ultimas_noticias/2013/11/131102_ultnot_fubol_espana_liga_real_madrid_rayo_vallecano_az
  33. "El Athletic golea en Pamplona y se consolida en la cuarta plaza"
    https://www.rtve.es/deportes/20140126/athletic-golea-pamplona-se-consolida-cuarta-plaza/861360.shtml
  34. "Barcelona 7–0 Osasuna"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/26581728
  35. "Osasuna 3–0 Atlético Madrid"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/26229909
  36. "La Liga: Javi Gracia named the new manager of Malaga"
    http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/14959/9332233/la-liga-javi-gracia-named-the-new-manager-of-malaga
  37. Levante-EMV
    https://www.levante-emv.com/deportes/2016/05/25/malaga-confirma-marcha-javi-gracia-12400177.html
  38. La Vanguardia
    https://www.lavanguardia.com/deportes/20160516/401832369046/el-malaga-repitio-el-octavo-puesto-de-las-temporadas-2001-02-y-2008-09.html
  39. Sport
    http://www.sport.es/es/noticias/liga-bbva/javi-gracia-ficha-por-rubin-kazan-5150278
  40. Хавьер Грасия покидает «Рубин»
    https://web.archive.org/web/20170611130935/http://www.rubin-kazan.ru/ru/news_items/6932-havier-grasiya-pokidaet-rubin
  41. "Gracia named Hornets' head coach"
    https://www.watfordfc.com/club/official-gracia-named-hornets-head-coach
  42. "Southampton 1–0 Watford"
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/42756109
  43. "Watford 1–4 West Ham: Clinical Hammers secure top-10 finish"
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48165991
  44. The Sydney Morning Herald
    https://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/watford-stage-classic-fa-cup-comeback-to-beat-wolves-in-semi-final-20190408-p51btx.html
  45. Evening Chronicle
    https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/watford-gracia-quique-sanchez-flores-16882436
  46. "Official statement | Javi Gracia"
    https://www.valenciacf.com/en/article/en-official-statement-javi-gracia-2020-07-27
  47. El Periódico
    https://www.elperiodico.com/es/barca/20210503/valencia-destituye-javi-gracia-11698205
  48. Watford Observer
    https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/19768041.former-watford-boss-javi-gracia-named-al-sadd-coach/
  49. Gulf Times
    https://www.gulf-times.com/story/710336/Unstoppable-Al-Sadd-rout-Al-Ahli-to-retain-title-i
  50. The Peninsula
    https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/18/06/2022/lillo-replaces-gracia-as-al-sadd-coach
  51. "Javi Gracia agrees to become Leeds United head coach"
    https://www.leedsunited.com/en/news/javi-gracia-agrees-to-become-leeds-united-head-coach
  52. "Leeds name ex-Watford boss Javi Gracia as manager"
    https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/leeds-name-ex-watford-boss-javi-gracia-manager-2023-02-21/
  53. "Leeds United 1–0 Southampton"
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/64686322
  54. "Leeds set to sack manager Javi Gracia and in talks with Sam Allardyce"
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65453934
  55. "Leeds sack Gracia with relegation looming, Allardyce takes over"
    https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/leeds-sack-gracia-with-relegation-looming-allardyce-takes-over-2023-05-03/
  56. "Leeds United: Javi Gracia defends record after being replaced by Sam Allardyce"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65480493
  57. "Watford sack Pezzolano and reappoint Gracia"
    https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/ce84w939l84o
  58. El País
    https://elpais.com/deportes/2014/04/25/actualidad/1398453658_315622.html
  59. The Independent
    https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/fa-league-cups/watford-vs-crystal-palace-javi-gracia-interview-values-premier-league-fa-cup-epl-jonathan-liew-a8824326.html
  60. "Gracia: "My sons are singing the songs""
    https://www.watfordfc.com/teams/first-team/gracia-my-sons-are-singing-songs
  61. BDFutbol
    https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l2644.html?temp=2006-07
  62. BDFutbol
    https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l2644.html?temp=2008-09
  63. BDFutbol
    https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l2644.html?temp=2010-11
  64. Javi Gracia coach profile at Soccerway (archived)
    https://web.archive.org/web/2/https://int.soccerway.com/coaches/xabier-gracia/164995/#bd
  65. BDFutbol
    https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l2644.html?temp=2012-13
  66. BDFutbol
    https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l2644.html?temp=2013-14
  67. BDFutbol
    https://www.bdfutbol.com/en/p/l2644.html?temp=2014-15
  68. "Javi Gracia Carlos signs as Rubin Kazan boss"
    https://www.thescore.com/uefa/news/1034040-javi-gracia-carlos-signs-as-rubin-kazan-boss
  69. Faro de Vigo
    https://www.farodevigo.es/deportes/2997/pontevedra-campeon-desmotivado-pajara/137201.html
  70. "El aniversario de dos ascensos cadistas"
    https://eldesmarque.com/cadiz/cadiz-cf/noticias-cadiz/165552-el-aniversario-de-dos-ascensos-cadistas
  71. "Manchester City 6–0 Watford"
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48236232
  72. "Manager profile: Javier Gracia"
    https://www.premierleague.com/managers/33006/Javier-Gracia/overview
Image
Source: —
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.