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.

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR

Filippo Giraldi

Nationality: Italian

Watched the Hornets for the Pozzo family prior to their takeover in 2012. Promoted from chief scout to current role in 2016.

COACHING

MANAGER

Nigel Pearson

Nationality: English

Appointed in December 2019 to replace Quique Sanchez Flores on a contract to the end of the season. Served Leicester City in two spells spanning six years and widely credited with laying the foundations for their Premier League win under Claudio Ranieri in 2015/16.

ASSISTANT

Craig Shakespeare

Nationality: English

Served alongside Pearson at Leicester (in two spells) and Hull City and will join him again at Vicarage Road. Promoted to manager of the Foxes for eight months in 2017 and famously led them into the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

ASSISTANT

Hayden Mullins

Nationality: English

Made more than 500 senior appearances as a player. Joined Watford as U23 assistant in July 2016 before being promoted to U23 lead. Stood in as interim manager following the sacking of Quique Sanchez on December 1st and has been retained on the coaching staff by Nigel Pearson.

GOALKEEPER COACH

Graham Stack

Nationality: English

Was part of Arsenal's Invincibles squad in 2003/4 and made more than 300 senior appearances as a player. Joined Watford in September 2018 as Head of Academy Goalkeeping. Promoted to first team staff on interim basis with Mullins and retained by Pearson.

SCIENCE & MEDICAL

MEDICAL DIRECTOR

Emilio Lopez-Vidriero

Nationality: Spanish

Brought in in January 2018 because of the club's "frustrating injury record". Runs a private practice in Seville, where he treats many athletes.

HEAD OF MEDICAL

Dr Ian Hamilton

Nationality: English

Promoted to this new role in 2016.

SPORTS SCIENTIST

Lee Stafford

Nationality: English

Joined the club as an intern in October 2015. Went full time with the U21s in July 2016 and promoted to the first team in July 2018.

PHYSIO

Pete Webb

Nationality: English

Recruited from Leyton Orient, where he was Head Physio, in March 2017.

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.