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Claudio Ranieri arrived at Watford’s training ground after agreeing to become the club’s head coach.
According to Sky in Italy, Ranieri is expected to sign a contract to take over at Vicarage Road on Monday.
The Italian, who guided Leicester to the Premier League title in 2016, stepped down as manager of Sampdoria at the end of last season.
Watford sacked head coach Xisco Munoz after less than 10 months at the helm on Sunday morning, with the club 14th in the Premier League with seven points in its first seven matches.
Spaniard Munoz replaced Vladimir Ivic in December 2020 and guided the club to automatic championship promotion last season.
Munoz’s last game in charge was a loss to Leeds at Elland Road Saturday, with Ranieri set to become Watford’s 13th different permanent boss since the Pozzo family finalized their Watford buyout in 2012.
Ranieri, who turns 70 later this month and has also managed Chelsea and Fulham, is well known to Watford owners, who believe he has been a candidate for the post before.
His first game in charge will likely be the Premier League home game against Liverpool after the international break on October 16.
Munoz surprised that Watford’s ‘wonderful’ trip ends
Munoz admitted he did not expect his departure from Watford after becoming the first managerial casualty of the Premier League season.
Watford sacked Munoz just seven games after the campaign had started, having only beaten Norwich City after a Day 1 win over Aston Villa.
A club statement announcing the Spaniard’s departure said recent results “strongly point to a negative trend at a time when team cohesion is expected to improve visibly.”
Munoz released his own statement via Twitter after leaving Vicarage Road, saying: “It was a wonderful trip and it ended in a way I never expected or wanted.
“I am grateful and will only remember all the good things that I have experienced.
“It’s a sad day for me and my family as it marks the end of a period in a club and in a city where we felt at home.
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Watch: Xisco Munoz’s latest interview as Watford head coach
“I have nothing but words of gratitude for the club which gave me the opportunity to start my first adventure in this exciting country.
“My sincere thanks to the players for believing in me and my staff from the first moment so that together we can realize the dream of promotion to the Premier League.
“And a big thank you to all of the club members not shown in the photos as they are essential to the proper functioning of this team. You have made my life so much easier.
“Finally, I would like to give a special shout out to the fans. It’s only been a year, but I will never forget its intensity and the treatment you have always given me over the year. I will always be a fan. of Watford FC. “
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