Championship club Watford have named Slaven Bilic as their new boss on an 18-month deal after sacking Rob Edwards just 11 games into his tenure.
He succeeded former England boss Roy Hodgson and became the Hornets’ eighth permanent manager since 2018.
Former West Ham and West Brom boss Bilic had been out of management since leaving Chinese club Beijing Guoan.
His contract was cancelled by mutual consent in January, after a year in charge, because he wanted to return to his family in Europe.
Owner Gino Pozzo said: “As with all decisions taken by the board, I believe this change to be in the best interests of the club.
“We felt Rob had enough time to show us the identity of his team, however performances haven’t reflected our hopes and ambitions.
“Now we must move forward, and, in Slaven Bilic, we have secured the services of an experienced coach who has recent experience of promotion to the Premier League.”
When Edwards was appointed, it triggered a furious response from Forest Green, whose chairman Dale Vince accused Watford of going behind his back to complete negotiations.
At the time, the sense was of Watford taking a different approach to hiring and firing of managers.
Chief executive Scott Duxbury told the Watford Observer: “We will be supporting Rob Edwards come hell or high water.”
But he has quickly gone the same way as so many of his predecessors at Vicarage Road.
In a brief statement, the club said: “Watford FC has relieved Rob Edwards of his duties as head coach.
“The board wishes to place on record its thanks to Rob for all of his work since his appointment and wish him and his assistant Richie Kyle – who will also leave the club – all the very best for their future careers in coaching and management.”
Since Sean Dyche left in 2012, Gianfranco Zola, Giuseppe Sannino, Oscar Garcia, Slavisa Jokanovic, Quique Sanchez Flores, Walter Mazzarri, Marco Silva, Javi Gracia, Nigel Pearson, Vladimir Ivic, Xisco Munoz, Claudio Ranieri, Hodgson and now Edwards have all had spells in charge.
Of those, Jokanovic and Munoz both led the club to promotion to the Premier League, the latter in 2021, but he was sacked six months later.
