Paulo Pezzolano is only 42 years old. He has been given a one year contract with the option of an additional year. Does he speak English? He has won the Segunda División title with Torque in Uruguay in 2017. He led Liga MX side Pachuca to the play-offs during the 2020–21 season in Mexico, but Pachuca lost in the semifinals of the 2021 Torneo Guardianes. Does Mexican Hornet know anything about him? Pezzolano was appointed as new head coach of Brazilian Série B side Cruzeiro in January 2022. Cruzeiro reached the finals of the 2022 Campeonato Mineiro and they were promoted to Série A. He was appointed as manager of Real Valladolid in April 2023 in place of sacked Pacheta. Both Cruzeiro and Real Valladolid are owned by Ronaldo (the former Brazilian player). Real Valladolid were relegated to 'segunda liga', but he remained in charge of the club during the 2023–24 season, and achieved promotion back to La Liga. Pezzolano was dismissed in November 2024 when Real Valladoid had won only 2 out 15 games in La Liga and 1 game in the Copa del Rey. I am not convinced by this appointment. He has struggled when in charge of teams at the highest level in Brazil and Spain. I doubt that he knows anything about the Championship or about Watford's players. He may adopt a high-intensity pressing style and give youth a chance, but he will have little chance of success unless Watford's squad is strengthened.
I think that he has only been recruited to try to lead Watford to the Premier League. His CV suggests (apart from Mexico) that he has not done very well in the top leagues.
Watford FC are thrilled to announce Paulo Pezzolano as our new Head Coach. The Uruguayan, 42, has carved out a reputation as a promotion specialist, having reached the top divisions in Spain, Brazil and Uruguay, and has a rich pedigree of working with young players and establishing a clear playing identity. “Paulo has a hugely impressive track record working with young players, which is essential when you look at the age profile of our squad,” said Hornets Sporting Director Gian Luca Nani. “He has had success at virtually every club, including league titles and promotions, but it is his work on the training ground that impressed the most when we undertook our research. “He has innovative ideas and processes which he transmits passionately to the players. We believe Paulo is the leader we need as we refocus ahead of the new season. He is fully aware of our ambitions and determination to push for promotion and embraces that challenge. “The club achieved great success when making similar appointments in Slaviša Jokanović, Javi Gracia and Xisco Muñoz, and we hope our fans welcome Paulo and wish him every success as we try to achieve the owner’s clear aim of challenging for a return to thePremier League.”
More worried about us going out the league via the other way ! Apparently good with youngsters but shame he won’t get the chance as pressure will be to get results not give young players a go and get time to develop them . Good on the training ground too apparently - guess he can be spied on there .
Not that contract duration means much these days, but am I the only one surprised to find that he's only got a 12 month contract? https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/spo.../watford-new-manager-paulo-pezzolano-10180786
There's nothing quite like giving youngsters game time to develop them, which is apparently what he is prepared to do. If we manage to hold on to them, there are at least three names I'd expect to see on the starting team sheet for next season's opening fixture.
Am I bovvered? No not really. I lost interest quite a while ago on our managerial merry go round. I want to see our younger players given a chance but see little hope of a 1 year manager giving playing time and a chance to our youngsters when he has to be short term results driven rather than nurturing and developing a team over a couple of seasons.
Ultimately, that's what I felt about Cleverley. I think he transformed us, shook out or sorted out the deadwood inevitably acquired from Premier League relegation, but we didn't get the ball into the danger area enough to give even a second rate forward the necessary chances. Maybe he wanted to, but it wasn't delivered by his players. Georgi's marauding runs were entertaining, but how often did they enable a real chance? Baah was one of the very few who always looked genuinely dangerous, but I think he'll probably go to help service/relieve some debt.
