Izuchukwu Okosi
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Watford on Monday sacked head coach Claudio Ranieri after just little over over three months in charge of the team facing the danger of relegation from the English Premier League.
The Premier League club have now started the search for replacement for the Italian with Frank Lampard hugely favoured to take charge of the team.
Ranieri’s sack follows Friday night’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of relegation rivals Norwich City, which leaves Watford in 18th, just three points off the foot of the table.
Ranieri known as the ‘Thinker Man’ only managed to win seven points during his time in charge, with the highlight being a 4-1 victory over Manchester United at Vicarage Road in November.
Watford have only managed a single point — a 1-1 draw at fellow strugglers Newcastle on January 15 since that good game.
A club statement read: “Watford Football Club confirms the departure of Head Coach Claudio Ranieri.
“The Hornets’ Board recognises Claudio as a man of great integrity and honour, who will always be respected here at Vicarage Road for his efforts in leading the team with dignity.
“However the Board feels that, with nearly half of the Premier League campaign remaining, a change in the Head Coach position now will give a new appointment sufficient time to work with a talented squad to achieve the immediate goal of retaining Premier League status.
“No further club comment will be made until this new appointment is confirmed in due course.”
The Italian’s departure brings an end to his fourth spell in English football, after previously managing Chelsea, Leicester City, and Fulham. He won the EPL title with Leicester in the 2015/2016 season.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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