Watford have confirmed Javier Gracia as their new head coach on an 18-month contract, only eight hours after sacking Marco Silva.

Gracia was identified by the Hornets as they became increasingly frustrated with the run of results under his now axed predecessor, and they moved quickly to bring him in once the decision was made this morning.

The job becomes his first in English football in a managerial career which has already taken him to his native Spain, as well as Greece and Russia inside a decade - and eight clubs already.

As detailed in a piece we wrote earlier today, Gracia's main success came in a two-year stint at Malaga, where he guided the cash-strapped club to eighth and ninth in La Liga, regularly taking points off the big three of Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

He will take training at London Colney tomorrow and is expected to be presented to the media on Thursday afternoon.