Watford fans have been left frustrated after concerning news emerges whilst rivals Luton Town celebrate promotion to the Premier League.
Watford’s Sporting Director Cristiano Giaretta has signed a three-year contract with the Hornets, having been in the role since 2020.
The Athletic report that he will work with Ben Manga, who joined the Championship club in 2022, with Manga said to continue with his focus on recruitment and scouting, while Giaretta will focus on a broad remit for the first-team.
News: #WatfordFC Sporting Director Cristiano Giaretta has agreed a new 3 yr deal at the Championship club.
Italian has been in post since 2020, will continue to work alongside Technical Director Ben Manga as part of hierarchy.
Story for @TheAthleticFChttps://t.co/EDJUUVpRd1
— Adam Leventhal (@AdamLeventhal) May 27, 2023
Since the season ended, talks had been going on regarding the role of Giaretta and a new extension has been agreed upon with Gino Pozzo, whose name we’ve seen on banners with fans wanting him gone.
55-year-old Giaretta first worked with the Watford owner at Udinese in 2013 where he held the Sporting Director role for three years before joining Ascoli.
Giaretta worked with Watford’s owner at Udinese in 2013, acting as Sporting Director for three years before then linking with Ascoli.
In 2019, he took up a position at CSKA Sofia, then moved to Watford, replacing Filippo Giraldi who was recently at Nottingham Forest.
Giaretta’s first season saw secure Watford promotion back to the Premier League, only to then disappoint, with Watford relegated.
For the second season in a row, Watford have had three managers come and go, and Giaretta was reported on the verge of quitting before getting rid of Rob Edwards, who has just won promotion to the big time with Luton.
However he came back just as Edwards was relieved from his duties, then took to replace him with Slaven Blic, who had previously been known to enjoy a close relationship with Giaretta.
Chris Wilder came in to complete the season after Bilic had departed, fans unhappy with an 11th place finish.
😳 “Whoever sacked Rob Edwards at Watford, I hope you’re feeling embarrassed.”
🤦♂️ “He’ll be in the Premier League, Watford will be reaping what they sow in the EFL…”
Alex Crook says whoever sacked Rob Edwards at Watford should feel ashamed pic.twitter.com/Vo0BzJQTny
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) May 27, 2023
After Manga joined Eintracht Frankfurt mid-season, it wasn’t clear if Giaretta would stay in his position during the summer, but it’s now been announced via The Athletic that Giaretta’s contract has been extended.
Manga told The Athletic in an article published in May that the club hierarchy had collectively decided to name Valerien Ismael as the new head coach.
“Everyone was part of the decision-making process to find a new head coach — which I led on behalf of the club,” he said.
Watford have chosen not to comment back to The Athletic regarding Giaretta’s contract, with fans unsurprised by the club keeping quiet, and instead hope to get some answers in an upcoming fans forum meeting.
As mentioned, Watford fans are left frustrated after concerning news emerges whilst Luton celebrate their promotion…
@louorns:
What a day for Watford fans this has turned out to be
• Ex manager gets promoted with our biggest rivals
• Useless techincal director Giaretta gets new three year deal
• Midfielder Edo Kayembe has liked several posts on Insta congratulating Luton
What chance do we stand
@Richwfc2: Great trolling from Adam & Pozzo on today of all days , the man Edwards wanted removing but instead Pozzo removed him and kept Giaretta , this is released as Edwards takes our bitter rivals to the premiership , brilliant
@scottormerod: There’s me thinking today couldn’t get any worse 🤦🏻♂️🙄
@GenerallyBall: can today get any worse?
@TheRealJoe7B: Providing the audience isn’t hand picked. The fans forum is going to be tasty. You couldn’t make this stuff up, especially after today!
@GuyWelb: Genuinely what has Giaretta done to deserve a new contract….. #pozzoout
@FredFUTTrader: Couldn’t get any worse, seriously.
@AaronJfernandez: Probably not really the time 😂😂
@ArvidPahlman: Genuinely what is the direction of the club? I don’t get it. New manager every quarter and they shovel players in and out like coal. What is the vision?
@thegemsons: Great timing
@jbreckerWFC: The hierarchy are taking the piss out of the fans
@watford_gm: What a day to let this info out 🫣
@albanhorn: Sad thing is, there are people at the club that truly believes this is good news.
@WFCSean: Fully deserved 👏
@NickHawthorne15: Just to finish off a great day and another marvellous season for the club. Thanks to Gino and Scott, we are so lucky our wonderful club is your safe hands.
@DaveBayliss1: Pozzo stupidly backed Giarretta over Edwards. On the day Edwards gets to stick 2 fingers up to Watford, the club commit to 3 more years of the pointless giarretta. Nothing is changing at our club. Nothing. He must know where the bodies are buried.
@MarkJolly_WFC: This must be a joke surely
@1AndrewMitchell: The guy who got Edward’s sacked because of a hissy fit to the owner gets contract renewal on day Edwards gains promotion. Couldn’t make it up. All that’s wrong at watfordfc
@barnesy007: This has to be a joke! He’s a bloody failure
@badjer74: Are we being trolled or what…ffs
@pyne_steve: Disgrace what has he achieved in 3 years
@barnesy007: It’s like the club are asking for a revolt!
@JamesMichell: This is troll level 💯 from Pozzo and the gang 🤪. Announcing this today straight after L#ton get promoted. Amazing stuff 👀
@Charlieb2803: You actually couldn’t make it up
— James Hitchins (@JamesWFC_) May 27, 2023
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