Defensive legend takes over at Watford FC

Valérien Ismael, who was once very successful on the ball for SV Werder Bremen and FC Bayern, will become the new head coach of English second division football club Watford.

As the table eleventh of the already ended season confirmed on Wednesday evening, the 47-year-old Alsatian follows the previous head coach Chris Wilder, who only took over the team after the 35th matchday.

“Being able to appoint a new coach so early in May means that together we can prepare very well for next season,” said Ben Manga, the second division club’s technical director.

Bayern legend has already coached two Bundesliga clubs

Ismael trained as a player at his hometown club Racing Straßburg and won German championships and cups with Werder Bremen before joining Bayern Munich and Hannover 96.

As a coach, he most recently worked for Besiktas Istanbul and the English clubs West Bromwich Albion and FC Barnsley. In Germany he worked for 1. FC Nuremberg and VfL Wolfsburg.

“To welcome someone with Valérien’s experience to Watford is good news for our club. We are all looking forward to working with him,” said the 49-year-old manga, who was Eintracht Frankfurt’s professional football director until the end of November 2022 .

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