New Watford manager Claudio Ranieri already 6/1 to be the next Premier League manager to leave
Claudio Ranieri has been named the new manager of Watford on a two-year deal.
Ranieri, 70 this month, has replaced promotion-winner Xisco Munoz, who on Sunday became the first Premier League casualty of the season.
It’s the Italian’s 22nd job since he embarked upon a career in management back in 1986 with Vigor Lamezia, and his fourth Premier League club following spells at Chelsea (2000-04), Leicester (2015-17), and Fulham (2018-19), while it’s his first post since leaving Sampdoria in June.
It’s fair to say that there’s been a mixed reaction.
On one hand Watford have recruited a vastly experienced manager, a gentleman of the dugout, who is incredibly positive, doesn’t shy away from a challenge, and was the architect of one of the greatest managerial feats in history - you know the one.
Yet, as with most appointments, there are question marks too.
When Ranieri returned to the Premier League in November 2018 he failed to galvanise a struggling Fulham side, winning just three of his 17 matches during a wretched 106-day stint.
The Cottagers, who were subsequently relegated under caretaker boss Scott Parker, even lost at home to League Two Oldham in the FA Cup.
As we know, the Hornets hot-seat is scorching hot.
The average tenure of a Watford manager since the Pozzo family took over in 2012 is just 30 games. That’s 14 individual spells at an average of 30 games; seven of those managers didn't even make it to 30 games; just two managers made it past the 50-game milestone; while Munoz lasted a reasonably lengthy 36 matches.
Poor Sean Dyche, appointed a year prior to the Pozzo’s takeover, didn’t even get the chance to prove his credentials to the new owners as he was ruthlessly axed within days of their arrival in July 2012.
The latest incumbent, Ranieri, has penned a two-year deal at Vicarage Road, which to some may understandably be viewed as slightly ambitious.
The Italian hasn’t spent two years in a job since Monaco back between 2012 and 2014, while he didn’t even reach the 20-game mark in three of his last six jobs: Greece (four), Fulham (17), and Roma (12).
It’s probably not too much of a surprise to hear that not a single one of the 14 managerial spells under the Pozzo family have reached the two-year mark. You have to go back to Malky Mackay’s two-year tenure, 2009-11, which preceded Pozzo's arrival.
Furthermore, the last time Watford were in the Premier League (2019/20) they had four managers. They sacked Javi Gracia in September, Quique Flores’ second-spell lasted three months, then Nigel Pearson was axed with two games remaining when the club were three points above the drop zone: they lost both games under interim boss Hayden Mullins and were relegated.
He’s only just got the job but Ranieri is already priced at 6/1 (Bet Victor) to be the next Premier League manager to leave. To some, lasting until Christmas would be a success of sorts.
The fixture list certainly hasn't been kind to Ranieri, who faces Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool in his first match (scroll up for odds). This is followed by Everton, then you'd think is a must-win at home to Saints, before a daunting run of matches against Arsenal, Man Utd, Leicester, Chelsea, and Man City. Yikes.
Watford are priced at 4/6 to be relegated (Paddys), evens to stay up (William Hill), 20/1 to finish in the top-half (Bet Victor), and...2000/1 to win the Premier League.
