Watford once again seem to need a new manager in the summer. But one thing is for sure: Sean Dyche will not be back.
The “Hornets” will part ways with Ed Still at the end of the 2025/26 season. He took over from Javi Gracia in February, but has only won three of 14 championship matches.
Read: Barcelona got a blank no in the Premier League – back on the Alvarez and Sørloth track
Now the Pozzo family – who bought the club in 2012 – seem to be getting their 24th permanent manager ready on the sidelines.
“I have absolutely no intention of doing that
Dyche was the first manager to be sacked during the Pozzo ownership. He led Watford to an 11th-place finish in the Championship in 2011/12 – the club’s highest finish in four years – but was replaced by Gianfranco Zola.
On talkSPORT Breakfast, host Jeff Stelling read out all the Watford managers who have come and gone since Dyche left the club 14 years ago. Dyche sat next to him in the studio.
– Dyche back! the former Watford boss replied jokingly.
When asked if he would ever consider a return, he replied bluntly:
“Absolutely not! No chance! What are you talking about?
“I loved Watford, but…
Dyche himself made 78 appearances for Watford, playing between 2002 and 2005. He returned in 2007 as U18 coach, before becoming assistant to Malky Mackay two years later. He then took over the main responsibility before the 2011/12 season.
“I loved my time at Watford. I had a brilliant period as a player, assistant coach, youth coach and manager,” says Dyche.
“But I don’t intend to come back, no.
Sean Dyche’s managerial career so far
- Watford (2011–2012) – 11th place in the Championship, sacked despite the club’s best finish in four years.
- Burnley (2012–2022) – Promoted to the Premier League in 2013/14, relegated, immediately promoted again – and stayed for six years in a row.
- Everton (2022–2025) – Saved the Toffees from relegation twice, the last time with an eight-point deduction.
- Nottingham Forest (October 2025 – January 2026) – Ten wins in 25 games, left the club after only four months.
After Igor Tudor left Tottenham at the end of March, Dyche was rumoured as a possible replacement. But Roberto De Zerbi got the job, and Dyche himself has confirmed that he never spoke to Spurs about the position.
All Watford managers since Sean Dyche
| Manager | Period |
|---|---|
| Gianfranco Zola | July 2012 – December 2013 |
| Giuseppe Sannino | December 2013 – August 2014 |
| Oscar Garcia | September 2014 (withdrew for health reasons) |
| Billy McKinlay | September 2014 – October 2014 |
| Slavisa Jokanovic | October 2014 – June 2015 |
| Quique Sanchez Flores | June 2015 – May 2016 |
| Walter Mazzarri | July 2016 – May 2017 |
| Marco Silva | May 2017 – January 2018 |
| Javi Gracia | January 2018 – September 2019 |
| Quique Sanchez Flores | September 2019 – December 2019 |
| Nigel Pearson | December 2019 – July 2020 |
| Vladimir Ivic | August 2020 – December 2020 |
| Xisco Munoz | December 2020 – October 2021 |
| Claudio Ranieri | October 2021 – January 2022 |
| Roy Hodgson | January 2022 – May 2022 |
| Rob Edwards | May 2022 – September 2022 |
| Bilic the Slave | September 2022 – March 2023 |
| Chris Wilder | March 2023 – May 2023 |
| Valerien Ishmael | May 2023 – March 2024 |
| Tom Cleverley | March 2024 – May 2025 |
| Paulo Pezzolano | May 2025 – October 2025 |
| Javi Gracia | October 2025 – February 2026 |
| Ed Still | February 2026 – present |
As Watford are set to part ways with Still in the summer, a 25th permanent manager is expected in the Pozzo era. But Sean Dyche won’t be anyway.
Read: Martin Ødegaard wanted by Premier League rival and Italian giant
