Watford fans will be hoping for another Claudio Ranieri miracle after the Italian was named their 13th permanent manager since 2012.
Ranieri steered 5000/1 shots Leicester City to the most improbable of all Premier League titles in 2016, in what remains the crowning glory of a lengthy managerial career.
And the 69-year-old has already got a headstart at Vicarage Road, with the Hornets
only priced up at 1500/1 with Planet Sport Bet to end the 2021/22 season as Premier League champions.
Ranieri’s astonishing feat in guiding the Foxes to the title didn’t make him immune from the sack, however. He departed 25 games into the following season with Leicester hovering just above the relegation zone.
The ever-popular coach is understood to have resisted overtures from Italian clubs to sign a two-year deal with the Hertfordshire club.
After two years away from the English game, Watford fans will be praying they get the Ranieri from his first season at Leicester and not the Ranieri who won just five of his 25 matches in charge in 2016/17.
Or the Ranieri who won three of his 17 games in charge of Fulham…or the Ranieri who failed to win a match in charge of Greece.
This isn’t stacking up well is it?
The Hornets currently sit four points above the drop zone heading into the international break.
Nevertheless, their tepid performance in defeat to Leeds United on Saturday saw their odds for relegation cut from 11/10 to 5/6. Leeds, in contrast, were eased out to 8/1 in the relegation market.
Ranieri, who was most recently in charge of Italian Serie A side Sampdoria, faces a tough start to his tenure, with Watford entertaining title-chasing Liverpool when the Premier League season resumes on October 16.
And despite Ranieri having only just arrived at Vicarage Road, he is already priced up as joint third favourite to be the next Premier League manager to depart.
Newcastle United perennially under-pressure manager Steve Bruce currently heads the betting at around 4/1.
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