Claudio Ranieri have been fired by Watford after only 14 Premier League games in charge, and the Hornets are now on the lookout for a new manager to take over for the remainder of the season.
The Italian coach, who is best known for winning the Premier League with Leicester City, leaves the hornets having collected just seven points during his time in charge, but he will be remembered as the man who ultimately cost Ole Gunnar Solskjaer his job following a 4-1 victory over Manchester United at Vicarage Road in December.
That was possibly the only bright moment of his tenure, which began with a 5-0 loss to Liverpool and ended with a crushing 3-0 defeat to fellow relegation contenders Norwich City in the last game of the season.
The lights went out on Ranieri’s time in the Watford bench during a game that was interrupted due to a power outage on Saturday.
Is this again another wrongful dismissal?
With just 7 points in 14 games, it’s difficult to dispute, yet it does seem like a severe dismissal at the same time.
Claudio Ranieri’s Watford career by numbers:
◉ 14 games
◉ 11 defeats
◉ 2 wins
◎ 17 goals scored
◎ 34 goals conceded
◎ 0 clean sheets
Eight of the 13 were against the current top eight teams in the Premier League, in a run of games that might have easily resulted in Ranieri’s dismissal sooner rather than later.
It was always going to be a mountain to climb after the departure of previous manager Xisco Munoz.
However, with yet another new manager expected to join the team before the conclusion of the January transfer season, it might become much more difficult.
Watford host Burnley in their opening game of the season, and they will then face West Ham and Brighton, where they will be expected to pick up points.
Whoever is selected will have a relegation six-pointer to cope with first, as Watford host Burnley.
If they fail to do so, they are well aware of the consequences.
