Watford staff profiles
Pen pics of Watford's coaching, science, medicine and analytics staff. To see staff profiles for other clubs, click here.
FOOTBALL EXECUTIVES
CHAIRMAN & CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Scott Duxbury
Nationality: English
Qualified as a lawyer and worked in that capacity for West Ham before becoming their chief executive. His time at Upton Park was controversial though, with the club fined £30m because of the Carlos Tevez affair, and he left in 2010 when David Gold and David Sullivan took over. Has been at Watford since 2012, when the Pozzo family took over, and is a key figure on both the football and business sides of the club.
SPORTING DIRECTOR
Cristiano Giaretta
Nationality: Italian
Joined in December 2023, replacing compatriot Cristiano Giaretta. Had previously worked for the Hornets from 2012 to 2015 - and with Chairman Scott Duxbury at West Ham. Has also been Sporting Director at Brescia, Al Jazira and Reading.
COACHING
INTERIM HEAD COACH
Tom Cleverley
Nationality: English
The former Manchester United midfielder played more than six years for Watford before becoming their U18s Lead. In March 2024 was promoted to Interim Head Coach following sacking of Valerien Ismael.
INTERIM ASSISTANT
Armand Kavaja
Nationality: English/ Albanian
A rare long-serving member of Watford staff. Joined in 2016 as Women's Head Coach and went on to become U18s Assistant to Cleverley. Moved up to join him with the first team in March 2024.
INTERIM ASSISTANT
Damon Lathrope
Nationality: English
Made more than 200 appearances in the lower league before moving into coaching. Permanent role in as Women's Head Coach and seconded to work with the men's first team in March 2024.
GOALKEEPER COACH
Alex Brunner
Nationality: Italian
Was a goalkeeper in his homeland, playing more than 300 senior games, before moving into coaching with Como and then Udinese, Watford's sister club.
TECHNICAL CONSULTANT
Jimmy Gilligan
Nationality: English
Was a National Coach Developer at the Football Association for five years before joining Watford as Head of Technical Development in 2021. The UEFA Pro Licence holder was an apprentice for the Hornets and made 27 appearances for them between 1981 and 1985.
PERFORMANCE & MEDICAL
HEAD OF MEDICAL
Dr Ian Hamilton
Nationality: English
Promoted to this new role in 2016.
PHYSIO
Daniel Simm
Nationality: English
Was U23 physio for a year before becoming Head of Medical at Peterborough in June 2018. That role only lasted five months, before Simm returned to Watford as first-team physio in October 2018.
JUNIOR SPORTS SCIENTIST
Adam Payne
Nationality: English
Worked in the Academy, in the Foundation, Youth Development and Professional Development phases, before being promoted to first-team duties in January 2024.
PHYSIO
Daniel Salazar Cantabrana
Nationality: Spanish
Worked for clubs in his homeland of Spain and also Belgium before joining the Hornets in August 2022.
PHYSIO
Muhammed Ali
Nationality: English
Started as a Therapist with the club before becoming a Physio - first with the Academy and then, from October 2022, with the first team.
PHYSIO
Esteban Perez
Nationality: Spanish
Joined Watford in June 2022, having previously worked for Hamilton Academical in Scotland for a year.
ANALYSTS
ANALYST
Chris Douglas
Nationality: English
Joined in Academy role in January 2024 from Reading. Promoted to First-Team Analyst when Tom Cleverley came in as Interim Head Coach in March 2024.
