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Watford have parted company with manager Claudio Ranieri after Friday’s 3-0 defeat at home to Norwich plunged them into the relegation zone.
The Italian oversaw 13 Premier League games, losing 10, and the capitulation against their relegation rivals proved the final straw for Watford’s board.
Ranieri, 70, was appointed on October 4, succeeding popular Spaniard Xisco Munoz who steered the Hornets to promotion last season.
The former Leicester and Chelsea boss lost his first game 5-0 at home to Liverpool before picking up statement wins over Everton and Manchester United.
But despite improving Watford’s attack, the former Premier League winner failed to tighten up a porous defence that has not kept a top-flight clean sheet all season.
The Hornets will now be looking for their third head coach of the season.
A statement from Watford read: “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.”
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