Watford sack Claudio Ranieri after just 16 weeks in charge

Well-travelled Italian leaves Premier League club follolwing 3-0 defeat at home to relegation rivals Norwich

Watford have sacked Claudio Ranieri with the Hornets languishing 19th in the Premier League. PA

Watford have sacked boss Claudio Ranieri after just 16 weeks in the hot seat.

The well-travelled Italian signed a two-year deal at Vicarage Road in October, replacing Xisco Munoz with the side 15th, having taken seven points from their first seven Premier League games.

But Ranieri only managed to double that points tally during his 13 top-flight matches in charge and has been sacked by Watford after 112 days.

The Hornets languish in 19th place in the Premier League and sit just two points above bottom-placed Burnley, who have two games in hand on the Hertfordshire side.

The relegation rivals will go toe-to-toe in a rearranged encounter at Turf Moor this weekend, with last Friday’s chastening 3-0 home loss to struggling Norwich the final straw for the Watford hierarchy.

A club statement read: “Watford Football Club confirms the departure of head coach Claudio Ranieri.

“The Hornets’ board recognises Claudio as a man of great integrity and honour, who will always be respected here at Vicarage Road for his efforts in leading the team with dignity.

“However the board feels that, with nearly half of the Premier League campaign remaining, a change in the head coach position now will give a new appointment sufficient time to work with a talented squad to achieve the immediate goal of retaining Premier League status.

Newcastle 1 Watford 1: player ratings

NEWCASTLE RATINGS: Martin Dubravka - 7: Didn’t have stop to make until Joao Pedro’s weak shot after an hour then called quickly into action again when he saved very well from King when Hornets attacker was through on goal. Couldn’t do anything about Watford goal. Reuters

Keiran Trippier - 7: New boy linked up well with Fraser down right which was Newcastle main source of attack in first half. La Liga winner has added some much-needed defensive quality and composure. AFP

Fabian Schar - 7: Headed Trippier cross wide of target 30 minutes in. Swiss defender can be happy with his day’s work with some important challenges at back. PA

Jamaal Lascelles - 5: Dealt with Watford balls into box for most of match very well and looked solid enough at back until giving ball away that almost resulted in Sissoko scoring against old club. Beaten by Pedro in air for late equaliser. PA

Paul Dummett - 7: First game of season for injury-prone defender and was a welcome return for Newcastle who have been relying on wingers playing out of position at full-back. Timely challenges bar one rash tackle on Dennis that earned him a booking. Getty

Ryan Fraser - 7: His ball into box was deflected into path of Joelinton who hit the Watford bar and the winger was good source of crosses down Newcastle right. Energetic performance and a good shift from Scot. Booked for fouling Pedro. Reuters

Sean Longstaff - 6: Wofeul side-footed finish from edge of box when well-placed after poor Sissoko clearance five minutes before break. Newcastle need more from the Geordie boy and were lacking inspiration in centre of park. Reuters

Jonjo Shelvey- 5: Volleyed high and wide in first minute and booked for foul on Kukca that was centimetres away being penalty soon after. Shelvey's lack of mobility and pace in midfield is a problem. Getty

Joelinton - 6: Loose pass in own half in opening 10 minutes that Watford failed to capitalise on. Hit the crossbar soon after at the other end with first-time prod then volleyed another shot wide after 20 minutes when he should have at least hit target. Works so hard, if only he could finish. Reuters

Allan Saint-Maximin - 7: Angered home crowd by gifting possession to Watford that resulted in King shooting wide. Body language, decision-making and final ball all poor in first half. Then produced trademark weaving run and brilliant finish to open scoring just after break. AP

Chris Wood - 5: First half chance came after 18 minutes when tried to cut back on to left foot when should have got shot away earlier. Looped two headers over bar in disappointing debut. Getty

SUBS: Jacob Murphy – (On for Fraser 74’) 5: No chance to make mark. Getty

Miguel Almiron – (On for Saint-Maxmin 86’) N/A. PA

WATFORD RATINGS: Ben Foster - 7: Beaten by Joelintion shot that hit bar in first half when he had no saves to make. No chance with Saint-Maximin finish in what was quiet afternoon for former England goalkeeper. Reuters

Jeremy Ngakia - 6: Had been excellent in opening 45 against Saint-Maximin but lost possession to Frenchman just after half-time that ended with Newcastle attacker opening scoring. Was beaten to ball by Joelinton when Brazilian hit woodwork in opening half. AFP

Craig Cathcart - 7: Sloppy pass almost gifted chance to Newcastle in opening 10 minutes and looked very shaky at back early on. Improved, though, and finished game strongly, helping keep Wood very quiet. Reuters

Samir - 7: Good introduction to physicality of Premier League for Brazilian new boy up against Wood and Magpies' attacker was well marshalled by Samir and the Watford defence as a whole. Headed tamely at Dubravka in first-half stoppage time. Booked for bundling over the big striker late on. PA

Hassane Kamara - 6: Signing from Nice looks composed on ball but had hands full defensively up against Trippier-Frasier combination down Newcastle right in first half. Reuters

Juraj Kukca - 7: Almost through on goal only to be scythed down by Shelvey on edge of box after eight minutes and had some good moments in midfield. Reuters

Edo Kayembe - 5: Signed from Belgian outfit Eupen, midfielder was third Hornet making his debut but little impact on proceedings. One sliced effort wide of target when well placed with 20 minutes to go. PA

Moussa Sissoko - 5: Midfielder almost handed his former club chance with awful backpass that Wood should have done better with. Good battle with Joelinton in middle of park. Booked for bringing down Saint-Maixmin. Missed absolute sitter when failed to hit target in box after being teed-up by Dennis. Reuters

Emmanuel Dennis - 6: Quick feet always make him threat and laid one chance on plate for SIssoko. One embarrassing over-reaction to slight Trippier nudge in chest annoyed the former Atletico Madrid player and every home fan. PA

Josh King - 5: Attacker should have done better with smashed left-footed shot wide of target after quarter-of-an-hour. Denied by Dubravka save when clear on goal just after hour mark. Reuters

Joao Pedro - 7: Involved in lovely interchange of passes that almost ended up with Kukca through on goal in first half and displayed fine range of passing. One weak shot easily saved by Dubravka. Produced brilliant header to earn Watford late point. Reuters

SUBS: Kiko Femenía – (On Ngakia 66’) 7: Miraculous cross under pressure down the right wing to set up Joao Pedro’s late leveller. Reuters Cucho Hernandez – (On for Dennis 84’) N/A.

“No further club comment will be made until this new appointment is confirmed in due course.”

Ranieri has had a varied management career, with Watford the fourth different Premier League club he has managed.

The 70-year-old spent time in charge of Chelsea and Fulham, but is best known for his incredible job at the Leicester helm.

Tipped for relegation and priced by bookmakers at 5,000-1 to win the title, Ranieri oversaw one of the greatest-ever sporting triumphs by leading the unfancied Foxes to the Premier League crown in 2015-16.