2013–14 Watford F.C. season


Watford Football Club is an English football club from Watford, Hertfordshire. They played in the 2013–14 Football League Championship, for the seventh consecutive season since relegation from the Premier League in 2006–07. The manager was Giuseppe Sannino.

Background

Gianfranco Zola replaced Sean Dyche as Watford manager at the end of the 2011–12 season following Sean Dyche's dismissal. Following the takeover of Watford by the Pozzo family, Watford loaned a significant number of players on season-long deals from fellow Pozzo-owned clubs Udinese and Granada. The use of a large number of loan players drew criticism from both the media and fellow managers, who argued that a large number of loan players from a few clubs should not be allowed. However, despite the number of loanees at the club, Watford used the second-most academy players after Middlesbrough, using eight different academy players throughout the season.

Pre-season

Watford attended a pre-season training camp in northern Italy and played friendly fixtures before playing more fixtures in the UK

Football League Championship

Football League Cup

FA Cup

League table

Summary

Players

Statistics

No. = Squad number
Pos = Playing position
P = Number of games played
G = Number of goals scored
= Yellow cards
GK = Goalkeeper
DF = Defender
MF = Midfielder
FW = Forward
= Red cards
Yth = Whether player went through Watford's youth system
Joined club = Year that player became a Watford first team player
Age = Current age
Loan player
Statistics correct as of game played 3 May 2014.
Numbers in brackets indicate substitute appearances

Transfers

updates as 20 September 2013

In

Out

At the end of the 2012–13 season, the club announced that seven players would be released at the end of their contracts, alongside Chris Iwelumo, who had already agreed to join Scunthorpe United. After being released by the club, Jack Bonham signed for Brentford, Stephen McGinn signed for Sheffield United and Mark Yeates signed for Bradford City.
DatePlayerToFee
3 June 2013Chris IwelumoScunthorpe UnitedFree
7 June 2013Jack BonhamBrentfordFree
7 June 2013Mark YeatesBradford CityReleased
7 June 2013Prince Buaben-Released
7 June 2013Stephen McGinnSheffield UnitedFree
7 June 2013Piero MingoiaAccrington StanleyReleased
7 June 2013Aaron Tumwa-Released
7 June 2013Stephan Hamilton-Forbes-Released
1 July 2013Craig ForsythDerby CountyUndisclosed
2 July 2013John EustaceDerby CountyFree
20 July 2013Lee HodsonMilton Keynes DonsFree
24 July 2013Carl DickinsonPort ValeMutual Termination
29 July 2013Jonathan HoggHuddersfield Town£400k
31 July 2013Britt AssombalongaPeterborough United£1.3M
9 January 2014Adam ThompsonSouthend UnitedUndisclosed

Loans

updates as 20 September 2013

In

Out

International

On 14 August 2013, Cristian Battocchio made his Italian Under-21 debut in a 4-1 friendly win over Slovakia.
CountryTeamPlayer
Senior
Senior
Under-21
Under-21
Under-21
Under-21
Under-21

Coaching staff

RoleName
Head CoachGiuseppe Sannino
Assistant CoachAdolfo Sormani
Assistant CoachBastiano Porcu
Goalkeeping CoachAlec Chamberlain
Youth CoachDavid Hughes
Chief ScoutFilippo Giraldi
Scouting Co-OrdinatorLuke Warrington
Head of MedicalMarco Cesarini
Kit ManagerWill Jones
Head of Sports ScienceGianni Brignardello
Sports ScientistBen Dixon