Watford dismiss head coach Ed Still after 83 days
Watford have parted ways with head coach Ed Still just hours after the conclusion of the Championship season, ending his tenure after merely 83 days in charge at Vicarage Road, reports BritPanorama.
The club announced the decision on Sunday morning in a brief statement, which also indicated that first team coach Karim Belhocine had been relieved of his duties.
During his time with the Hornets, the 35-year-old Belgian coach oversaw 15 matches, securing three wins, four draws, and eight losses. His final game was especially disappointing, as Watford suffered a significant 4-0 defeat to Coventry City at home on Saturday.
This outcome left the team finishing the Championship campaign in 16th place—an unsatisfactory result for the club’s board, despite the absence of relegation concerns.
Still’s appointment marked him as the third permanent manager for the 2025-26 season, continuing a trend of high turnover at Watford. Prior to joining the club, he served as caretaker manager at Anderlecht, having also held permanent roles at three top-flight Belgian teams: Charleroi, Eupen, and Kortrijk.
His brother, Will Still, has also exited English football management following his stint at Southampton earlier this season. Ed Still had previously been part of the coaching staff at Lens, under his brother’s guidance.
Watford’s managerial changes this season began with Paulo Pezzolano, followed by Javi Gracia’s return, who also stepped down earlier in the year. The club has seen a staggering 22 permanent managers during Gino Pozzo’s ownership since 2012.
Speaking at his final press conference, Ed Still had expressed some insight into his situation, indicating an awareness of the precarious nature of his role. “I’m not on social media, I’m not one to be reading the press every day,” he stated. “I know it’s part and parcel of football that when results aren’t good, when there’s been such a high turnover of managers here at Watford, there’s going to be smoke. I’m prepared for that as a person and as a manager, so you take it and move on.”
The events at Watford serve as a reminder of the fragile nature of managerial roles in football, where the promise of stability often gives way to the pressures of immediate performance.
