Watford have confirmed that Quique Sanchez Flores has returned to the club as head coach following the sacking of Javi Gracia.
Despite a poor start to the season leaving the Hornets bottom of the Premier League with one point from four games, the decision to sack Gracia came as a surprise on Saturday afternoon.
Within half an hour, Watford had announced Gracia's replacement, and it meant a return to Vicarage Road for Sanchez Flores.
The 54-year-old came back for a second spell having guided them to a comfortable mid-table finish during the 2015/16 campaign on the club's return to the Premier League.
A club statement read: "Watford FC announces the appointment of Quique Sánchez Flores as the club’s new Head Coach.
"The 54-year-old returns to Vicarage Road, having guided Watford to a comfortable mid-table finish during the 2015/16 campaign – the club’s first season back in the Premier League.
"He also led Watford to the semi-finals of the FA Cup during his year at the helm. After leaving England, Sánchez Flores took Espanyol to an eighth-place finish in La Liga and also had a spell in China with Shanghai Shenhua.
"In 2010, the former Spain international led Atlético Madrid to Europa League glory as well as the club’s first Copa del Rey final in more than 10 years, later lifting the UEFA Super Cup in a period of huge success at the Vicente Calderón Stadium.
"Sánchez Flores has also coached Getafe and Valencia – achieving third and fourth-place La Liga finishes with the latter – as well as Portuguese side Benfica and United Arab Emirates outfits Al Ahli and Al Ain."
