Topzle Topzle

List of Watford F.C. managers

Updated: Wikipedia source

List of Watford F.C. managers

Watford Football Club are an English association football club, based in Watford, Hertfordshire. As of 2025, the team competes in the EFL Championship, the second-highest level of the English football league system. Four people – Len Goulden, Neil McBain, Javi Gracia and Quique Sánchez Flores – have taken charge of the club on two occasions, while Graham Taylor had three stints as manager of the club.

Tables

· Managers
John Goodall
John Goodall
Manager
John Goodall
From
May 1903
To
May 1910
M
253
W
91
D
64
L
98
Win %
35.97
Honours and achievements
Southern League Second Division champions, 1903–04United League Champions, 1905–06
Harry Kent
Harry Kent
Manager
Harry Kent
From
May 1910
To
May 1926
M
484
W
187
D
121
L
176
Win %
38.64
Honours and achievements
Southern League First Division champions, 1914–15Southern League First Division runners-up, 1919–20
Fred Pagnam
Fred Pagnam
Manager
Fred Pagnam
From
May 1926
To
May 1929
M
133
W
49
D
28
L
56
Win %
36.84
Honours and achievements
Neil McBain
Neil McBain
Manager
Neil McBain
From
May 1929
To
August 1937
M
364
W
152
D
77
L
135
Win %
41.76
Honours and achievements
Bill Findlay
Bill Findlay
Manager
Bill Findlay
From
August 1937
To
February 1947
M
114
W
50
D
25
L
39
Win %
43.86
Honours and achievements
Football League Third Division South Cup, 1937
Jack Bray
Jack Bray
Manager
Jack Bray
From
March 1947
To
January 1948
M
40
W
11
D
10
L
19
Win %
27.50
Honours and achievements
Eddie Hapgood
Eddie Hapgood
Manager
Eddie Hapgood
From
February 1948
To
March 1950
M
95
W
32
D
29
L
34
Win %
33.68
Honours and achievements
Ron Gray
Ron Gray
Manager
Ron Gray
From
March 1950
To
August 1951
M
56
W
13
D
15
L
28
Win %
23.21
Honours and achievements
Haydn Green
Haydn Green
Manager
Haydn Green
From
August 1951
To
October 1952
M
64
W
21
D
14
L
29
Win %
32.81
Honours and achievements
Len Goulden
Len Goulden
Manager
Len Goulden
From
November 1952
To
October 1955
M
143
W
54
D
41
L
48
Win %
37.76
Honours and achievements
Johnny Paton
Johnny Paton
Manager
Johnny Paton
From
October 1955
To
February 1956
M
17
W
3
D
6
L
8
Win %
17.65
Honours and achievements
Len Goulden
Len Goulden
Manager
Len Goulden
From
February 1956
To
July 1956
M
17
W
6
D
3
L
8
Win %
35.29
Honours and achievements
Neil McBain
Neil McBain
Manager
Neil McBain
From
August 1956
To
February 1959
M
131
W
44
D
35
L
52
Win %
33.59
Honours and achievements
Ron Burgess
Ron Burgess
Manager
Ron Burgess
From
February 1959
To
May 1963
M
220
W
92
D
50
L
78
Win %
41.82
Honours and achievements
Football League Fourth Division promotion, 1959–60
Bill McGarry
Bill McGarry
Manager
Bill McGarry
From
July 1963
To
October 1964
M
68
W
29
D
21
L
18
Win %
42.65
Honours and achievements
Ken Furphy
Ken Furphy
Manager
Ken Furphy
From
November 1964
To
July 1971
M
334
W
132
D
86
L
116
Win %
39.52
Honours and achievements
Football League Third Division champions, 1968–69,FA Cup semi-finalists, 1970, whilst in second flight
George Kirby
George Kirby
Manager
George Kirby
From
August 1971
To
May 1973
M
97
W
21
D
27
L
49
Win %
21.65
Honours and achievements
Mike Keen
Mike Keen
Manager
Mike Keen
From
June 1973
To
April 1977
M
196
W
73
D
52
L
71
Win %
37.24
Honours and achievements
Graham Taylor
Graham Taylor
Manager
Graham Taylor
From
June 1977
To
May 1987
M
527
W
244
D
124
L
159
Win %
46.30
Honours and achievements
Football League Fourth Division champions, 1977–78Football League Third Division runners-up, 1978–79Football League Second Division runners-up, 1981–82Football League First Division runners-up, 1982–83FA Cup runners-up, 1983–84FA Cup semi-finalists, 1987
Dave Bassett
Dave Bassett
Manager
Dave Bassett
From
May 1987
To
January 1988
M
28
W
7
D
8
L
13
Win %
25
Honours and achievements
Steve Harrison
Steve Harrison
Manager
Steve Harrison
From
January 1988
To
March 1990
M
115
W
40
D
36
L
39
Win %
34.78
Honours and achievements
Watford relegated to EFL 2nd division
Colin Lee
Colin Lee
Manager
Colin Lee
From
March 1990
To
November 1990
M
35
W
7
D
10
L
18
Win %
20
Honours and achievements
Steve Perryman
Steve Perryman
Manager
Steve Perryman
From
November 1990
To
July 1993
M
132
W
44
D
37
L
51
Win %
33.33
Honours and achievements
Glenn Roeder
Glenn Roeder
Manager
Glenn Roeder
From
July 1993
To
February 1996
M
139
W
44
D
40
L
55
Win %
31.65
Honours and achievements
Graham Taylor
Graham Taylor
Manager
Graham Taylor
From
February 1996
To
June 1996
M
18
W
5
D
8
L
5
Win %
27.78
Honours and achievements
Kenny Jackett
Kenny Jackett
Manager
Kenny Jackett
From
June 1996
To
June 1997
M
55
W
20
D
20
L
15
Win %
36.40
Honours and achievements
Graham Taylor
Graham Taylor
Manager
Graham Taylor
From
June 1997
To
May 2001
M
202
W
79
D
52
L
71
Win %
39.11
Honours and achievements
Football League Second Division champions, 1997–98Football League First Division play-off winners, 1998–99
Gianluca Vialli
Gianluca Vialli
Manager
Gianluca Vialli
From
May 2001
To
June 2002
M
52
W
20
D
11
L
21
Win %
38.46
Honours and achievements
Ray Lewington
Ray Lewington
Manager
Ray Lewington
From
June 2002
To
March 2005
M
150
W
51
D
39
L
60
Win %
34
Honours and achievements
FA Cup semi-finalists, 2003, whilst in second flight
Aidy Boothroyd
Aidy Boothroyd
Manager
Aidy Boothroyd
From
March 2005
To
November 2008
M
176
W
65
D
51
L
60
Win %
36.93
Honours and achievements
Football League Championship play-off winners, 2005–06,FA Cup semi-finalists, 2007
Malky Mackay (caretaker)
Malky Mackay (caretaker)
Manager
Malky Mackay (caretaker)
From
November 2008
To
November 2008
M
5
W
2
D
1
L
2
Win %
40
Honours and achievements
Brendan Rodgers
Brendan Rodgers
Manager
Brendan Rodgers
From
November 2008
To
June 2009
M
31
W
13
D
6
L
12
Win %
41.93
Honours and achievements
Malky Mackay
Malky Mackay
Manager
Malky Mackay
From
June 2009
To
June 2011
M
99
W
33
D
25
L
41
Win %
33.33
Honours and achievements
Sean Dyche
Sean Dyche
Manager
Sean Dyche
From
June 2011
To
July 2012
M
49
W
17
D
17
L
15
Win %
34.69
Honours and achievements
Notes
Gianfranco Zola
Gianfranco Zola
Manager
Gianfranco Zola
From
July 2012
To
December 2013
M
75
W
33
D
15
L
27
Win %
44
Honours and achievements
Notes
Giuseppe Sannino
Giuseppe Sannino
Manager
Giuseppe Sannino
From
December 2013
To
August 2014
M
36
W
15
D
9
L
12
Win %
41.67
Honours and achievements
Notes
Óscar García Junyent
Óscar García Junyent
Manager
Óscar García Junyent
From
September 2014
To
September 2014
M
4
W
1
D
2
L
1
Win %
25
Honours and achievements
Notes
Billy McKinlay
Billy McKinlay
Manager
Billy McKinlay
From
September 2014
To
October 2014
M
2
W
1
D
1
L
0
Win %
50
Honours and achievements
Notes
Slaviša Jokanović
Slaviša Jokanović
Manager
Slaviša Jokanović
From
October 2014
To
June 2015
M
36
W
21
D
5
L
10
Win %
58.33
Honours and achievements
Runner up in the 2014–15 Football League Championship, promotion to English Premier League
Notes
Quique Sánchez Flores
Quique Sánchez Flores
Manager
Quique Sánchez Flores
From
June 2015/September 2019
To
May 2016/December 2019
M
56
W
18
D
13
L
25
Win %
32.14
Honours and achievements
Took Watford to the semi-final of the 2015–16 FA Cup
Notes
Walter Mazzarri
Walter Mazzarri
Manager
Walter Mazzarri
From
July 2016
To
May 2017
M
41
W
12
D
7
L
22
Win %
29.27
Honours and achievements
Notes
Marco Silva
Marco Silva
Manager
Marco Silva
From
May 2017
To
January 2018
M
26
W
8
D
5
L
13
Win %
30.77
Honours and achievements
Javi Gracia
Javi Gracia
Manager
Javi Gracia
From
21 January 2018
To
7 September 2019
M
66
W
25
D
13
L
28
Win %
37.88
Honours and achievements
Took Watford to the final of the 2018–19 FA Cup
Hayden Mullins (caretaker)
Hayden Mullins (caretaker)
Manager
Hayden Mullins (caretaker)
From
December 2019
To
December 2019
M
2
W
0
D
1
L
1
Win %
0
Honours and achievements
Notes
Nigel Pearson
Nigel Pearson
Manager
Nigel Pearson
From
December 2019
To
July 2020
M
22
W
7
D
5
L
10
Win %
31.82
Honours and achievements
Notes
Hayden Mullins (caretaker)
Hayden Mullins (caretaker)
Manager
Hayden Mullins (caretaker)
From
July 2020
To
July 2020
M
2
W
0
D
0
L
2
Win %
0
Honours and achievements
Watford relegated to EFL Championship
Notes
Vladimir Ivić
Vladimir Ivić
Manager
Vladimir Ivić
From
August 2020
To
December 2020
M
22
W
9
D
8
L
5
Win %
40.91
Honours and achievements
Notes
Xisco Muñoz
Xisco Muñoz
Manager
Xisco Muñoz
From
December 2020
To
October 2021
M
36
W
21
D
4
L
11
Win %
58.33
Honours and achievements
Watford promoted to Premier League
Notes
Claudio Ranieri
Claudio Ranieri
Manager
Claudio Ranieri
From
October 2021
To
January 2022
M
14
W
2
D
1
L
11
Win %
14.29
Honours and achievements
Notes
Roy Hodgson
Roy Hodgson
Manager
Roy Hodgson
From
January 2022
To
May 2022
M
18
W
2
D
3
L
13
Win %
11.10
Honours and achievements
Watford relegated to EFL Championship
Notes
Rob Edwards
Rob Edwards
Manager
Rob Edwards
From
May 2022
To
September 2022
M
11
W
3
D
5
L
3
Win %
27.27
Honours and achievements
Notes
Slaven Bilić
Slaven Bilić
Manager
Slaven Bilić
From
September 2022
To
March 2023
M
26
W
10
D
7
L
9
Win %
38.46
Honours and achievements
Chris Wilder
Chris Wilder
Manager
Chris Wilder
From
March 2023
To
May 2023
M
11
W
3
D
3
L
5
Win %
27.27
Honours and achievements
Notes
Valérien Ismaël
Valérien Ismaël
Manager
Valérien Ismaël
From
May 2023
To
March 2024
M
48
W
13
D
16
L
19
Win %
27.08
Honours and achievements
Notes
Tom Cleverley
Tom Cleverley
Manager
Tom Cleverley
From
March 2024
To
May 2025
M
59
W
20
D
14
L
25
Win %
33.90
Honours and achievements
Notes
Paulo Pezzolano
Paulo Pezzolano
Manager
Paulo Pezzolano
From
13 May 2025
To
8 October 2025
M
10
W
3
D
3
L
4
Win %
30.00
Honours and achievements
Notes
Javi Gracia
Javi Gracia
Manager
Javi Gracia
From
8 October 2025
To
Present
M
0
W
0
D
0
L
0
Win %
0.00
Honours and achievements
Manager
From
To
M
W
D
L
Win %
Honours and achievements
Notes
John Goodall
May 1903
May 1910
253
91
64
98
35.97
Southern League Second Division champions, 1903–04United League Champions, 1905–06
Harry Kent
May 1910
May 1926
484
187
121
176
38.64
Southern League First Division champions, 1914–15Southern League First Division runners-up, 1919–20
Fred Pagnam
May 1926
May 1929
133
49
28
56
36.84
Neil McBain
May 1929
August 1937
364
152
77
135
41.76
Bill Findlay
August 1937
February 1947
114
50
25
39
43.86
Football League Third Division South Cup, 1937
Jack Bray
March 1947
January 1948
40
11
10
19
27.50
Eddie Hapgood
February 1948
March 1950
95
32
29
34
33.68
Ron Gray
March 1950
August 1951
56
13
15
28
23.21
Haydn Green
August 1951
October 1952
64
21
14
29
32.81
Len Goulden
November 1952
October 1955
143
54
41
48
37.76
Johnny Paton
October 1955
February 1956
17
3
6
8
17.65
Len Goulden
February 1956
July 1956
17
6
3
8
35.29
Neil McBain
August 1956
February 1959
131
44
35
52
33.59
Ron Burgess
February 1959
May 1963
220
92
50
78
41.82
Football League Fourth Division promotion, 1959–60
Bill McGarry
July 1963
October 1964
68
29
21
18
42.65
Ken Furphy
November 1964
July 1971
334
132
86
116
39.52
Football League Third Division champions, 1968–69,FA Cup semi-finalists, 1970, whilst in second flight
George Kirby
August 1971
May 1973
97
21
27
49
21.65
Mike Keen
June 1973
April 1977
196
73
52
71
37.24
Graham Taylor
June 1977
May 1987
527
244
124
159
46.30
Football League Fourth Division champions, 1977–78Football League Third Division runners-up, 1978–79Football League Second Division runners-up, 1981–82Football League First Division runners-up, 1982–83FA Cup runners-up, 1983–84FA Cup semi-finalists, 1987
Dave Bassett
May 1987
January 1988
28
7
8
13
25
Steve Harrison
January 1988
March 1990
115
40
36
39
34.78
Watford relegated to EFL 2nd division
Colin Lee
March 1990
November 1990
35
7
10
18
20
Steve Perryman
November 1990
July 1993
132
44
37
51
33.33
Glenn Roeder
July 1993
February 1996
139
44
40
55
31.65
Graham Taylor
February 1996
June 1996
18
5
8
5
27.78
Kenny Jackett
June 1996
June 1997
55
20
20
15
36.40
Graham Taylor
June 1997
May 2001
202
79
52
71
39.11
Football League Second Division champions, 1997–98Football League First Division play-off winners, 1998–99
Gianluca Vialli
May 2001
June 2002
52
20
11
21
38.46
Ray Lewington
June 2002
March 2005
150
51
39
60
34
FA Cup semi-finalists, 2003, whilst in second flight
Aidy Boothroyd
March 2005
November 2008
176
65
51
60
36.93
Football League Championship play-off winners, 2005–06,FA Cup semi-finalists, 2007
Malky Mackay (caretaker)
November 2008
November 2008
5
2
1
2
40
Brendan Rodgers
November 2008
June 2009
31
13
6
12
41.93
Malky Mackay
June 2009
June 2011
99
33
25
41
33.33
Sean Dyche
June 2011
July 2012
49
17
17
15
34.69
Gianfranco Zola
July 2012
December 2013
75
33
15
27
44
Giuseppe Sannino
December 2013
August 2014
36
15
9
12
41.67
Óscar García Junyent
September 2014
September 2014
4
1
2
1
25
Billy McKinlay
September 2014
October 2014
2
1
1
0
50
Slaviša Jokanović
October 2014
June 2015
36
21
5
10
58.33
Runner up in the 2014–15 Football League Championship, promotion to English Premier League
Quique Sánchez Flores
June 2015/September 2019
May 2016/December 2019
56
18
13
25
32.14
Took Watford to the semi-final of the 2015–16 FA Cup
Walter Mazzarri
July 2016
May 2017
41
12
7
22
29.27
Marco Silva
May 2017
January 2018
26
8
5
13
30.77
Javi Gracia
21 January 2018
7 September 2019
66
25
13
28
37.88
Took Watford to the final of the 2018–19 FA Cup
Hayden Mullins (caretaker)
December 2019
December 2019
2
0
1
1
0
Nigel Pearson
December 2019
July 2020
22
7
5
10
31.82
Hayden Mullins (caretaker)
July 2020
July 2020
2
0
0
2
0
Watford relegated to EFL Championship
Vladimir Ivić
August 2020
December 2020
22
9
8
5
40.91
Xisco Muñoz
December 2020
October 2021
36
21
4
11
58.33
Watford promoted to Premier League
Claudio Ranieri
October 2021
January 2022
14
2
1
11
14.29
· Playing records
John Goodall
John Goodall
Player
John Goodall
Position
FW
Years
1903–1907
Apps
69
Goals
17
National team
England
Notes
Player-manager
Harry Kent
Harry Kent
Player
Harry Kent
Position
DF
Years
1909–1913
Apps
69
Goals
9
National team
None
Notes
Player-manager from 1910
Fred Pagnam
Fred Pagnam
Player
Fred Pagnam
Position
FW
Years
1921–1927
Apps
157
Goals
74
National team
None
Notes
Player-manager between 1926 and 1927
Neil McBain
Neil McBain
Player
Neil McBain
Position
DF
Years
1928–1931
Apps
94
Goals
5
National team
Scotland
Notes
Player-manager between 1929 and 1931
Bill Findlay
Bill Findlay
Player
Bill Findlay
Position
DF
Years
1932–1944
Apps
137
Goals
6
National team
Scotland junior
Notes
Player-manager between 1937 and 1944
Ron Gray
Ron Gray
Player
Ron Gray
Position
DF
Years
1942–1946
Apps
29
Goals
4
National team
None
Notes
Johnny Paton
Johnny Paton
Player
Johnny Paton
Position
MF
Years
1952–1955
Apps
91
Goals
17
National team
Scotland schoolboys
Notes
Ken Furphy
Ken Furphy
Player
Ken Furphy
Position
DF
Years
1964–1968
Apps
111
Goals
1
National team
None
Notes
Player-manager until 1968
Mike Keen
Mike Keen
Player
Mike Keen
Position
DF
Years
1972–1975
Apps
136
Goals
6
National team
None
Notes
Player-manager between 1973 and 1975
Steve Harrison
Steve Harrison
Player
Steve Harrison
Position
DF
Years
1978–1981
Apps
102
Goals
0
National team
None
Notes
Glenn Roeder
Glenn Roeder
Player
Glenn Roeder
Position
DF
Years
1989–1991
Apps
86
Goals
3
National team
England B
Notes
Kenny Jackett
Kenny Jackett
Player
Kenny Jackett
Position
MF
Years
1980–1990
Apps
428
Goals
34
National team
Wales
Notes
Malky Mackay
Malky Mackay
Player
Malky Mackay
Position
DF
Years
2005–2008
Apps
61
Goals
5
National team
Scotland
Notes
Sean Dyche
Sean Dyche
Player
Sean Dyche
Position
DF
Years
2002–2005
Apps
78
Goals
0
National team
None
Notes
Malky Mackay
Malky Mackay
Player
Malky Mackay
Position
DF
Years
2005–2008
Apps
61
Goals
5
National team
Scotland
Notes
Sean Dyche
Sean Dyche
Player
Sean Dyche
Position
DF
Years
2002–2005
Apps
78
Goals
0
National team
None
Notes
Tom Cleverley
Tom Cleverley
Player
Tom Cleverley
Position
MF
Years
2009–2010 and 2017–2023
Apps
187
Goals
19
National team
England
Notes
Player
Position
Years
Apps
Goals
National team
Notes
John Goodall
FW
1903–1907
69
17
England
Player-manager
Harry Kent
DF
1909–1913
69
9
None
Player-manager from 1910
Fred Pagnam
FW
1921–1927
157
74
None
Player-manager between 1926 and 1927
Neil McBain
DF
1928–1931
94
5
Scotland
Player-manager between 1929 and 1931
Bill Findlay
DF
1932–1944
137
6
Scotland junior
Player-manager between 1937 and 1944
Ron Gray
DF
1942–1946
29
4
None
Johnny Paton
MF
1952–1955
91
17
Scotland schoolboys
Ken Furphy
DF
1964–1968
111
1
None
Player-manager until 1968
Mike Keen
DF
1972–1975
136
6
None
Player-manager between 1973 and 1975
Steve Harrison
DF
1978–1981
102
0
None
Glenn Roeder
DF
1989–1991
86
3
England B
Kenny Jackett
MF
1980–1990
428
34
Wales
Malky Mackay
DF
2005–2008
61
5
Scotland
Sean Dyche
DF
2002–2005
78
0
None
Malky Mackay
DF
2005–2008
61
5
Scotland
Sean Dyche
DF
2002–2005
78
0
None
Tom Cleverley
MF
2009–2010 and 2017–2023
187
19
England
Image
Source:
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.