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The Championship side have made the decision to end their manager's contract after just five months and 10 games in control, confirming the return of former boss Javi Gracia as his successor.

It is understood that the Uruguayan coach, appointed in May to take over from the interim manager, along with his backroom team, were instructed not to lead practice on midweek as rumors about his imminent departure mounted on the previous day.

Pezzolano was summoned for a meeting where he was named the 11th head coach Watford have let go since the beginning of the year 2020.

"We are delighted to reappoint Javi," said the club's chief executive. "His passion, guidance and clear strategy will help us build consistency, togetherness and positive energy.

"We believe many fans who wished Gracia had never departed in the past. With this young and exciting squad, we are convinced his know-how and qualities are precisely what we need at this moment."

The returning manager previously led Watford to the FA Cup showpiece for the second time in their history in that year, but was dismissed several games into the following campaign and most recently coached at Leeds United in 2023.

"For me, the feeling I have right now is that I'm going back home. It was the most enjoyable period of my career," he stated. "There are very good recollections and we have loose ends at Watford. For us, it's a further significant move in our career.

"It is something special for us, and simultaneously we are very ambitious for this campaign. If we are together, we are stronger."

The decision to remove Pezzolano arrives despite the team's win against Oxford United at Vicarage Road on the weekend, which lifted them to eleventh place in the second tier after a slow start that yielded a handful of points from the first six games.

The Uruguayan is said to have left disappointed by the call to sack him, having led the side to a undefeated streak of three games that featured a home win over Hull City and a tie at Fratton Park, leaving them within touching distance off the promotion playoffs.

The coach joined soon after the end of the previous campaign with a proven track record of guiding teams to advancement in Spain, Brazil and his home country.