Watford
Training Ground
Watford FC Training Ground, Bell Lane, London Colney, St Albans AL2 1BZ
01923 496000
Academy
Watford FC Training Ground, Bell Lane, London Colney, St Albans AL2 1BZ
Richard Johnson
Academy Info
Academy Category: Two
Academy Manager: Richard Johnson
Position in 2024/25 Academy Productivity Rankings: 35th
Under-21s Head Coach: Adrian Mariappa
Football Executives
English
Scott Duxbury
Chairman & Chief Executive
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.
English
Luke Dowling
Sporting Director
Reappointed as Sporting Director in the 2026 close season. Originally did the job for four years from August 2014 before a nine-month spell as Sporting Director at Nottingham Forest. Moved on to become Sporting and Technical Director at West Brom for three seasons.
Coaching
Italian
Alessio Dionisi
Head Coach
Appointed on a two-year deal in June 2026. Has so far spent his whole coaching career, as well his playing career, in Italy. Has managed a string of clubs in different divisions, taking Empoli to promotion from Serie B and managing Sassuolo in Serie A.
English
Charlie Daniels
First Team Coach
Played for Bournemouth for more than 10 years before moving into coaching with Watford. Was U21s Lead before two games as Caretaker Head Coach (one draw and a defeat) following exit of Javi Gracia. Then named First Team Coach alongside Still in February 2026.
Spanish
Alberto Garrido
First-Team Coach
He was appointed to the position of First Team Coach before the club’s 2024 pre-season. Had previously worked his way up the youth ranks coaching at Real Madrid, most recently being assistant manager at RM Castilla, their reserve team, since 2019
English
Dan Gosling
First Team Coach
Promoted from Lead Coach of the club’s Under-18 side to First Team Coach under Ed Still in February 2026. Previously played for Watford, as well as Plymouth Argyle, Everton, Newcastle United, AFC Bournemouth and Notts County. Initially rejoined the Hornets as Under-21s coach in 2024, before moving to the U18s role at the start of the 2025-26 season.
Spanish
Inigo Arteaga
Goalkeeping Coach
Appointed in October 2025 for his second spell working in this role under Gracia at Watford. Also worked with Gracia at Cadiz, Villarreal B, Olympiacos, Volos, Kerkyra, Almeria, Osasuna, Malaga, Rubin Kazan, Valencia and Al Sadd. Played as a goalkeeper in Spain.
Performance & Medical
Italian
Fabio Spighi
Head of Physical Performance
Appointed with Alessio Dionisi in June 2026 having previously worked with him at Imolese, Venezia, Empoli, Sassuolo and Palermo.
Spanish
Juan Solla
Fitness Coach
Appointed in October 2025, having worked with Gracia in his first spell in charge at Watford. Started working with him in 2007 at Pontevedra and went on with him to Cadiz, Villarreal B, Olympiacos, Volos, Kerkyra, Almeria, Osasuna, Malaga, Rubin Kazan, Valencia, Leeds and Al Sadd.
English
Daniel Simm
Physio
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.
English
Adam Payne
Junior Sports Scientist
Worked in the Academy, in the Foundation, Youth Development and Professional Development phases, before being promoted to first-team duties in January 2024.
Spanish
Daniel Salazar Cantabrana
Physio
Worked for clubs in his homeland of Spain and also Belgium before joining the Hornets in August 2022.
English
Muhammed Ali
Physio
Started as a Therapist with the club before becoming a Physio – first with the Academy and then, from October 2022, with the first team.
Analysts
English
Michael Johnson
Head of Analysis
Joined from Port Vale as First Team Analyst in November 2023 and promoted to Head of Analysis in April 2024.
Italian
Luka Vigiani
Analyst
Appointed with Alessio Dionisi in June 2026 for his second spell at Watford, having worked under Walter Mazzarri from 2016 to 2017. In 2021 was appointed as Head Coach of Bologna’s Under-19 team. Spent his entire playing career in Italy.
Belgian
Jordi Jansen
First Team Analyst
Joined the club in March 2026 from Anderlecht, where he was Lead First Team Analyst – a role he had previously had at Mechelen. Previously spent four years at Royal Antwerp, the last two as Assistant First Team Analyst, and a year at R Cappellen FC, the last six months of which was as Assistant First Team Coach.
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