The news hit us earlier that Watford manager Gianfranco Zola had resigned from the football club he guided to Wembley a few months before. Zola was integral in proving that the Pozzo’s, the club's new owners, meant business and his appointment showed that a new era was beckoning at Vicarage Road. The last few months of his tenure in Hertfordshire were certainly the lowest point of his 18 month spell, however, Watford fans and players alike will look back on his time with fondness.
The Italian was appointed on July 7th 2012 after Sean Dyche was relieved of his duties. This was Zola’s first job since being sacked by West Ham in 2010, so the former Chelsea midfielder was keen to make an impression. He did just that on the opening day of the season securing a 3-2 win away at Crystal Palace with a last minute goal from Matej Vydra; a sign of the exciting football that was about to grace Watford. Some say that the football played was the best they have ever seen from a Watford side, typified by some stunning team goals, including a fine move against Huddersfield in a 4-0 drubbing and that goal against Leicester City in the Play-Off Semi Final. A moment ingrained into Watford folklore forever.
The breed of attacking football and talented loanees brought goals and goals brought points. The Hornets flew up the table, something unheard of in recent years after the club was fighting relegation and was more importantly struggling to stay alive with administration looming. Watford finished in third place at the end of the 2012/2013 campaign after memorable wins against Leeds United, Hull, Leicester City and were top scorers in the Championship with 86 league goals. An unfortunate error in the final game of the season against Leeds showed how much of football is decided by the smallest of margins. Gianfranco Zola’s side needed a win to join the elite clubs in the Premier League but had it snatched away from them after a mistake from third choice keeper Jack Bonham.
The Play-Off’s dawned for the 47-year-old manager, his first taste of them was more than sweet, with his side conjuring up one of the greatest moments in Football League history. Needing to win by two clear goals Watford were winning 2-1 in the second leg when Anthony Knockaert controversially won a penalty in injury time. The Frenchmen stepped up but saw the penalty and his follow up shot saved by Manuel Almunia before the ball was launched forward The ball found it’s way to Hogg in the penalty box who cooly headed it back to Troy Deeney. He took his chance and hammered it in to cause jubilation around Vicarage Road.
The final ended in disappointment. A 1-0 loss against Palace ensured another season of Championship football for Zola but with such great football being played and backing from the owners it looked like they were contenders to win it this time around. They started so well with wins against Birmingham and Bournemouth kicking off the campaign before they recorded draws against promotion rivals Reading and Forest. It started to tail off after that and Zola’s reign ended in nine games without a win, including losses against two teams in the bottom three. This run saw the ‘sexy football’ disappear and the home crowd were left 360 minutes without celebrating a goal. Zola took charge of 75 games; winning 33, drawing 15 and losing 27.
Zola told Watford’s official website “It has been a privilege and a pleasure to serve this club and I am sure we will see each other again one day. I must place Watford Football Club first in my thoughts and it is for this reason that I have taken my action.”
“I will always remember having been welcomed so warmly to this wonderful football club, to have been supported so fully and to have been able to share moments of excitement and joy that will always live with me.”
Dignity intact. Integrity evident. Respect due.