New Watford boss Marco Silva in profile: Part 1

What makes him tick? What can we expect from Watford next season - and just how well did he do at Hull?

Here's part one of three of a Watford Observer profile of the new man:

Picture: Action Images

There was a palpable wish to take a different direction for Watford after the departure of Walter Mazzarri as the Hornets’ head coach - and the appointment of Marco Silva will deliver just that.

The 39-year-old talented Portuguese manager not only has a record which speaks for itself, enjoying success in his home country as well as with Greek champions Olympiakos, but a personality which brings you along for the ride.

While results proved Mazzarri’s downfall at Vicarage Road, he may have been awarded more sympathy had he developed a greater grasp of English, and a level of affection with the club’s fans during his 11-month stint in Hertfordshire.

But there is slim chance of a repeat of that ill-feeling forming under the new regime.

“Marco always engaged with the Hull fans when he was here,” Hull Daily Mail sports writer Phil Buckingham told the Watford Observer. “You always noticed a distance between Mazzarri and Watford, but there was none of that with Marco.

“I don’t think there’s any debate over whether or not he did a good job here. 99 per cent of fans think he did a great job.

“They got beaten in their last three games and smashed on the final day, but they were still chanting for him to stay.  “He wasn’t perfect, and never solved the club’s woeful away form. There were question marks over him when he arrived, but only because Portugal and Greece aren’t the big leagues.

“Not many people had heard of him but it was a gamble the club took, and it soon became clear that he was good.”

Mazzarri’s reign was not only overshadowed by his limited use of language, but also high-profile disagreements with Troy Deeney, who he dropped repeatedly in the final weeks of the season.

Away from the cameras, other players dropped hints they had never warmed to the Italian - but may have better luck working with Silva.

“I spoke to a player who was nowhere near the team but called Silva an amazing coach,” said Buckingham. “One mentioned something as small as a throw-in; if it wasn’t done right he would repeat it until it was drilled in. He’s very hands-on.”

This may sound like a gushing love note to Silva, given that Hull were relegated to the Championship last month.

That reality cannot be avoided, but the circumstances of the Tigers’ season - memorably going on a pre-season tour without a full squad - must be taken into account.

“In his first press conference, he said it would be a miracle if Hull stayed up,” Buckingham said. “He wasn’t far wrong - they had 13 points from 20 games, and he got 21 from 18 with a limited squad.

“The margin for error was so slim, and the Sunderland loss was catastrophic. He had some rotten decisions go against him in his time - but he just said ‘we all make mistakes.’”