Watford are reportedly set to part company with head coach Alessio Dionisi less than five months after he was named Ed Still's successor at Vicarage Road.
Dionisi, who is the 22nd manager of the Gino Pozzo era, got his Watford career off to a winning start against Southampton on the opening weekend, before overseeing respectable draws against Wrexham and West Ham United.
However, a run of six defeats in their last nine Championship matches resulted in the Hornets slumping into the bottom five of the division.
Despite a 1-0 win over Lincoln City and a goalless draw at home to promotion-chasing Middlesbrough, Dionisi is expected to be given the boot during the international window.
We've assessed which candidates will be in the frame to be the next manager of Watford in the event of Dionisi's dismissal.
Next Watford Manager Contenders
Edward Iordănescu
Reports from Romania have linked former Legia Warsaw manager Edward Iordănescu to the Vicarage Road hot seat.
Iordănescu has been out of work since his departure from the Ekstraklasa giants, where he lasted less than five months before his dismissal at the end of October 2025.
Prior to that, Iordănescu had a two-and-a-half year stint in charge of the Romania national team, where he secured qualification for Euro 2024. Romania topped Group E at the tournament, but they were knocked out by the Netherlands in the last-16.
The 48-year-old has predominantly managed in Romania, but he had a brief spell abroad with CSKA Sofia in Bulgaria before taking on the role of Legia Warsaw boss in June 2025.
A two-time Romanian Coach of the Year recipient and a Romanian first division winner with CFC Cluj in 2021, Iordănescu has not managed more than 60 games for a single club.
Paul Heckingbottom
Paul Heckingbottom could be a potential option if Watford are in the market for a manager with Championship experience.
The 49-year-old manager was sacked at Preston North End in September after the Lilywhites lost six of their first seven 2026/27 Championship games, and he may be keen to go straight back in.
He has a Championship promotion on his CV from his time at Sheffield United and he may feel as though he's still got plenty left to prove.
John Eustace
There is a scenario where Derby County decide to call it a day with John Eustace and Watford can snap up their former midfielder.
Eustace has impressed as a manager in the Championship, guiding Birmingham to survival with limited resources prior to their takeover before transforming Blackburn Rovers and Derby County into play-off contenders.
However, the current campaign has been a disastrous one for the Rams, who are stranded in the Championship bottom three. Injuries have played their part with Eustace's backline decimated by a length list of absentees.
If Derby decide it's best to call time on Eustace's tenure, a return to Vicarage Road could well be on the agenda.
Carlos Corberan
Carlos Corberan left West Brom to take the Valencia job in December 2024. He steered the club away from relegation in the 2024/25 campaign and oversaw a much improved ninth placed finish in the 2025/26 campaign, but he was dismissed after an underwhelming start to the new season.
The Spanish coach was in demand after making an instant impression at the Hawthorns and he was renowned for his modern and tactically progressive style.
Can Scott Duxbury convince Corberan that Vicarage Road is the right destination? It's been reported that the former Huddersfield and West Brom boss is holding out for a top-flight job.
Niels Frederiksen
Niels Frederiksen has been linked with various jobs in England in recent years and you could argue that his stock has never been as high.
The Danish manager is currently in charge at Polish side Leck Poznan, where he has won back-to-back Ekstraklasa titles.
Lech Poznan are playing in the Europa League this season and it remains to be seen whether the 55-year-old would want to trade European football for the second tier of English football.
