Watford appoint Oscar Garcia: Former Brighton manager replaces Beppe Sannino

Hornets points to Championship experience for appointment

Oscar Garcia during his time at Brighton (Getty Images)

Watford have appointed former Brighton boss Oscar Garcia as their new head coach.

The Hornets moved quickly to appoint the 41-year-old, who spent a season with the Seagulls before departing in May, following the resignation of Beppe Sannino on Sunday.

A club statement read: "Watford Football Club is delighted to confirm the appointment of Oscar Garcia as Head Coach, the Hornets having won the race against several high-profile English clubs to secure his services.

"Oscar's recent Championship experience, taking Brighton & Hove Albion into last season's Championship promotion Play-Offs, was a key factor in his appointment."

Garcia, who began his coaching career with Barcelona's academy, arrived at The Amex in June 2013 having led Maccabi Tel Aviv to the league title and into the Champions League in his sole campaign as head coach.

He led Brighton to a sixth-placed finish before resigning in the aftermath of their Championship play-off semi-final defeat to Derby in May.

He returned for a second spell with Maccabi only to part company with the club last Tuesday after just three months in charge due to their current security situation in Israel.

And on Tuesday morning he was appointed as the replacement for Italian Sannino, who had left Vicarage Road after nine months in charge with the Hornets second in the table.

Two Championship sides, Huddersfield and Leeds, remain without a permanent manager in charge.

PA