Watford welcome for new Hornets boss Quique Sanchez Flores

Holly Thackeray | 05.06.2015

Spanish tactician Quique Sanchez Flores has been appointed new Watford boss, with the Vicarage Road club (11/10 with Coral to stay up in the Premier League in 2015/16) moving swiftly to appoint a new manager after parting ways with Slavisa Jokanovic.

Former Atletico Madrid and Valencia coach Flores has penned a two-year contract that will commit him to the Hornets until 2017, with further details expected.

Welcome to #watfordfc, Quique! pic.twitter.com/vHKDxhs00O

— Official #watfordfc (@watfordfcsays) June 5, 2015

Highly-rated Flores will amazingly become the Hertfordshire club’s fifth coach in 10 months, after Italian co-owner Gino Pozzo, whose family also have continental outfits Udinese and Granada on their books, saw all of Jokanovic, Billy McKinlay, Oscar Garcia and Beppe Sannino depart this season.

Jokanovic had successfully steered the Hornets to automatic Premier League promotion but still found himself facing the axe, with a stand-off over a new contract said to be the cause, as ambitious Watford plan for their upcoming campaign in the English top flight.

Ex-Benfica boss Flores, a former Real Madrid right back, meanwhile, has been sitting on the sidelines since resigning from his second stint in charge of Getafe in February, and will now make his first foray into English football.

Fans can expect much from 50-year-old Flores, who has tasted silverware success in both Portugal and Spain, guiding Benfica to a Taca da Liga in 2009, before capturing Europa League and Super Cup crowns with Atletico Madrid in 2010.

The experienced tactician has also worked in the United Arab Emirates with Al Ahli and Al Ain, where he added further trophies to his cabinet before returning to Europe.

Having worked with top stars such as Sergio Aguero, Juan Mata and David Silva in the past, Watford fans will be hoping Flores can make the Hornets an attractive prospect, and the coach will likely be able to run the rule over several promising players from across the Pozzo empire.