Walter Mazzarri: Watford appoint former Napoli boss as head coach on a three-year deal
Watford have appointed Italian Walter Mazzarri as their new head coach to replace the outgoing Quique Sanchez Flores.
The 54-year-old Mazzarri has signed a three-year deal with the Hornets following spells with Inter Milan and Napoli, who he guided into the Champions League for the first time in 21 years.
Despite securing a second consecutive Premier League season for the first time in their history this year, Watford's owner Italian Gino Pozzo decided to call time on Flores' stay in England after the pair failed to see eye-to-eye on the club's approach.
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Mazzarri, who also secured a second-place finish and Coppa Italia final while at Napoli, is believed to have been studying English in preparation for a Premier League job.
He will be Watford's seventh different manager since the Pozzo family bought the club in 2012.
"Walter has been the target of a number of approaches for his services, so we're delighted to secure him as head coach here at Watford," said the club's chief executive Scott Duxbury.
"We're thoroughly looking forward to working with such a highly-regarded coach, with the progress and development of the club always remaining the highest priority."