Head Coach Javi Gracia Sends Heartfelt Message to Watford and His Former Players on Emotional Return to Vicarage Road
In an evening charged with nostalgia and mutual respect, former Watford head coach Javi Gracia returned to Vicarage Road for the first time since his departure in September 2019, ahead of Leeds United’s Championship fixture against the Hornets. Before kick-off, the Spaniard was invited onto the pitch to a warm ovation from all four stands, and in the matchday programme and subsequent post-match interviews, he delivered a deeply personal and heartfelt message to the club, its supporters, and the players he once led during one of the most memorable periods in Watford’s modern history.
Gracia, who spent just over 18 months at the club between January 2018 and September 2019, wrote a full-page letter in Saturday’s programme that left many supporters visibly moved. In it, he reflected on the journey from relegation fighters to FA Cup finalists and European competitors in little more than a year, and paid tribute to the unique bond he formed with the Watford family.
“Walking out at Vicarage Road again today felt like coming home,” Gracia began. “From the very first day I arrived in January 2018, I felt something special here. The passion of the supporters, the togetherness of the squad, the warmth of every single person who works at the training ground and the stadium; Watford gave me far more than I could ever give back. Tonight is not about me or Leeds United or even the three points. It is about saying thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to every single one of you who made my time here unforgettable.”
The 55-year-old took particular care to single out the players who delivered performances that will live long in the club’s folklore. He name-checked the core group that carried Watford to the 2019 FA Cup final and secured a historic 11th-place finish in the Premier League the same season, an achievement that remains the highest top-flight finish in the Pozzo era.
“To Troy Deeney, my captain and leader in every sense; to Abdoulaye Doucouré, whose engine and quality lit up the midfield; to Étienne Capoue, the warrior who protected us all; to Gerard Deulofeu, the magician who could win any game in a moment; to Roberto Pereyra, Will Hughes, Craig Cathcart, Christian Kabasele, Daryl Janmaat, José Holebas… every single one of you gave me your trust and your heart. You made a foreign coach who spoke little English feel like he belonged. I will never forget that.”
Gracia reserved special praise for Deeney, the club’s iconic former skipper who retired from playing in 2024 and now works as part of the coaching staff under Tom Cleverley. “Troy was more than a captain,” he wrote. “He was the soul of Watford. On the pitch, in the dressing room, in the corridors, he carried this club in his blood. When people ask me what made that 2018/19 team special, I always say one word: Troy. His goals, his leadership, his refusal to accept defeat; everything we achieved started with him.”
The memories of that extraordinary 2018/19 campaign flooded back for thousands in the stands. Gracia recalled the night in March 2019 when Deeney slammed home a stoppage-time penalty to beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-2 in the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley, sending Watford to their first final since 1984. He remembered Deulofeu’s breathtaking solo goal in the same game, and the way the travelling Hornets turned Wembley yellow. Even though the final ended in a heavy defeat to Manchester City, Gracia insisted the journey itself was the triumph.
“That semi-final against Wolves remains one of the proudest nights of my career,” he said. “Not because of tactics or preparation, but because of the heart my players showed. When Gerard scored that incredible second goal and Troy won and converted the penalty, I looked around Wembley and saw thousands of Watford fans crying with happiness. In that moment I understood what this club means to people. That is what I carry with me forever.”
Speaking to the media after Leeds’ 2-0 victory on Saturday night, an emotional Gracia expanded on his feelings about returning. “It was difficult to focus before the game because so many people came to say hello; staff who are still here after all these years, security people, kitchen staff, programme sellers. Everyone remembered my family, asked about my children. That is Watford. That is why this club is different.”
He also revealed that several of his former players had sent him messages in the days leading up to the game. “Doucouré, Capoue, Deulofeu, Kiko Femenía, even players who left years ago; they all wrote to me. Some joked that they hoped I lost 5-0, but underneath you could feel the respect is still there. I am proud that we still have that connection.”
Current Watford manager Tom Cleverley, who played under Gracia during that 2018/19 season, paid his own tribute before kick-off. “Javi was the coach who gave me my longest run in the Premier League team,” Cleverley said. “He trusted me when others maybe wouldn’t have. The way he handled the dressing room, the way he made every player feel important; that’s why we overachieved so much. Tonight the players wanted to put on a performance for him, even if the result didn’t go our way.”
As Gracia left the pitch to another standing ovation at full-time, he turned to the Rookery End, placed his hand on the Leeds badge, then pointed to the Watford crest on his heart; an unmistakable gesture that needed no translation. In an age where managerial tenures are increasingly short and transactional, moments like these feel rare and precious.
For Watford supporters, Saturday night was a reminder of a time when their club punched far above its weight, when a humble Spanish coach and a group of players who refused to accept their limitations took them within touching distance of immortality. Javi Gracia may now wear the white of Leeds United, but on this night, and in the hearts of everyone who wears yellow and black, he will always be one of their own.
“Thank you, Watford,” his letter concluded. “Thank you for the memories, the trust, and the love. Wherever football takes me, a part of me will always be walking out of that tunnel at Vicarage Road with you all singing behind me. Forever grateful. Forever a Hornet at heart.