Watford have this evening announced Xisco Munoz as their new head coach following the sacking of Vladimir Ivic.

The Serbian was let go after a difficult afternoon at Huddersfield Town during which he left captain Troy Deeney on the bench for what he described as "discipline reasons".

Since then, the club's CEO Scott Duxbury has released a statement saying: “Nobody at the club is in any doubt over Troy Deeney's high level of professionalism in his work. “Troy is quick to hold his hands up when his conduct has fallen short of the required standard but we are satisfied that was not the case.”

This evening the Hornets have announced that Munoz will be taking over following his recent stint as manager of Dynamo Tblisi in Georgia, whom he guided to the league title earlier this year.

A statement on the club website reads: "Watford FC is pleased to confirm the appointment of Xisco Muñoz as Head Coach.

The 40-year-old Spaniard – with an attacking philosophy to his coaching – was most recently manager at Dinamo Tbilisi, where he guided the club to a second successive Georgian league title in 2020.

Muñoz, who also boasts coaching experience at Spanish clubs Gimnàstic and Pobla Mafumet, was part of the Valencia squad that achieved a remarkable UEFA Cup and La Liga double in 2003/04, as well as winning the UEFA Super Cup the following season.

The former winger’s playing days also included spells with Recreativo, Tenerife, Real Betis, Levante, Dinamo Tbilisi and Gimnàstic, and he represented the Spanish national team at Under-21 level.

Muñoz will be joined at Watford by Roberto Cuesta (Assistant Coach) and Jorge Abella (Strength & Conditioning Coach), while Antonello Brambilla – who was already at the club – will move into the role of first-team Goalkeeping Coach."