Javi Gracia returned to Vicarage Road as Watford appointed him Paulo Pezzolano’s successor in October.
The Spaniard managed 21 matches, and the Hornets won eight of them before he stepped down at the start of this month. His decision to leave the Championship side came as a surprise and forced the club to look for a new manager.
On February 9th, Watford appointed Edward Still as their new permanent manager, a day after saying these links are “just rumours”.
Anderlecht appointed Jérémy Taravel the interim boss following Still’s move to Watford.
In July, both Still and Taravel joined Anderlecht as Besnik Hasi’s assistants. The Jupiler Pro League promoted the former as interim manager earlier this month, after Hasi’s sacking.
Anderlecht boss rejected Watford
Taravel continued to work after Still’s appointment, and the Belgian wanted to take the Frenchman with him to Watford. His brother, Nicolas Taravel, revealed this during a chat with Gazet van Antwerpen.
Nicolas is now a defender at Olympic Charleroi. He has been speaking to the newspaper about his brother’s situation at Anderlecht. Following Still’s departure, the Belgian club promoted Taravel to interim manager.
GVA specifically asked Nicolas how frustrating it is that Anderlecht haven’t made his brother’s appointment permanent until the end of the season.
When responding to that, he reveals about the Watford option and requested recognition for Jérémy from Anderlecht.
“Jérémy is focused on the next matches, but of course he wants to know his fate,” he said.
“He stayed at Anderlecht when everyone else left or had to leave. He could have gone with Edward Still to Watford, but he refused. That proves that my brother is looking for continuity.”
Anderlecht improved after Still’s exit
Still didn’t win a match with Anderlecht. Their situation improved under Jérémy, winning two of the three matches under his orders.
Whether the Belgian club will make Jérémy their permanent manager, or at least until the end of this season, isn’t clear.
Meanwhile, Still has one win and one draw from three matches for the Championship side.
Watford have picked up four points under their current manager and are now 12th in the table, six points behind fifth placed Wrexham.
