Watford Confirm Manager Quique Sanchez Flores’ Departure
Quique Sanchez Flores, Watford former manager [/caption]
Watford have confirmed that manager Quique Sanchez Flores will leave the club at the end of the season after a season in charge of the Premier League club.
The Spaniard moved to Vicarage Road last June to succeed Slavisa Jokanovic, and the team in the top flight football, following promotion last year.
The Hornets are currently 13th in the Premier League table with one match remaining, but have won just two of their past 11 top-flight games.
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Sanchez, who also guided Watford to the FA Cup semi-finals, will now leave the club after Sunday’s final game of the season.
A statement from Watford read: “Quique Sanchez Flores will leave Vicarage Road at the end of the season following the Sunderland game this weekend.
“We would like to thank Quique. He and the team achieved the target set them at the start of the season of staying in the Premier League for a second year.
“Quique leaves with all our best wishes for the future and the knowledge he is always welcome at Vicarage Road.”
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Flores becomes the seventh manager to depart Watford since the Pozzo family completed their takeover of the club in 2012.
Speaking at a pre-match news conference shortly after his departure was confirmed, Flores said: “Yesterday we had a meeting with the club to make a resume of the season and after that I confirmed that the club and me don’t have the same point of view about the season.
“So we don’t have the necessary conditions to renew the contract. My contact finishes in June and then I will leave Watford. This is the consequence.”
However, the Spaniard had warm words for both his players and the Watford fanbase.
“I’m very grateful to the players. They made an amazing effort,” Flores said.
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“There was amazing behaviour and feeling with the fans. I felt completely happy with this year.
“I enjoyed this experience. We have a lot of reasons to be happy because we enjoyed this amazing journey. There are a lot of good memories of this season.
“It will be really, really emotional – really special in the last moment, on the last day with the Watford fans.”
Asked about the prospect of continuing his managerial career in England, Flores added: “I don’t rule out anything. I would be happy to stay in England. We will see.”
According to Goal, former Napoli and Inter coach Walter Mazzarri will sign a three-year deal to become Watford’s new manager.
