Watford reappoint Quique Flores as Javi Gracia leaves club

Watford have announced Quique Flores's return as manager of the club after confirming the departure of Javi Gracia.

Flores managed Watford during the 2015-16 campaign and took the club to a 13th-place finish in the Premier League before leaving by mutual consent.

Gracia, who took the Hornets to the FA Cup final and an 11th-place finish last season, has been removed from his post following three defeats in four games this term.

Speaking about the club's decision, Watford chairman Scott Duxbury told BBC Sport: "Javi has represented Watford with great dignity and will always be deserving of our fullest respect for his achievements."

Gracia had been in charge since January 2018, making him the first manager to manage Watford for longer than one full season since 2013.

Since leaving Watford in 2016, Flores has had managerial spells at Espanyol in La Liga and Shanghai Shenhua in the Chinese Super League.