Watford announce Walter Mazzari as their new manager who replaces Quique Sanchez Flores after agreeing three-year contract

• Walter Mazzarri will replace Quique Sanchez Flores as Watford manager
• Flores guided club to Premier League safety and FA Cup semi-final 
• The 54-year-old has previously managed Sampdoria, Inter Milan and Napoli
• Mazzarri has been learning English in preparation for life in Premier League

Watford have announced the appointment of Walter Mazzarri as their new head coach on a three-year contract. 

The 54-year-old replaces Quique Sanchez Flores at Vicarage Road, who departed the club after a break clause was activated in his contract, to become the Hornets' eighth manager in the last four years. 

Italian Mazzarri arrives with plenty of coaching experience having managed the likes of Sampdoria, Napoli and Inter Milan in his home country, and it has also been revealed that he has been learning English in preparation for life in the Premier League.

Watford are set to announce former Inter Milan and Napoli coach Walter Mazzarri as their new manager

He will be the eighth manager to take charge at Vicarage Road in four years of the Pozzo family's ownership

Flores led Watford to a 13th place finish in the club's first season back in the Premier League and also took them to the semi-finals of the FA Cup where they were beaten by Crystal Palace.

But owner Gino Pozzo was said to be concerned by the Hornets' slump in the second half of the campaign and felt a change was warranted, despite the widespread confusion over the decision.

Quique Sanchez Flores waved goodbye to the Watford faithful after their final day draw against Sunderland

Watford's chief executive Scott Duxbury told the club's official website: 'Walter has been the target of a number of approaches for his services, so we're delighted to secure him as head coach here at Watford.

'We're thoroughly looking forward to working with such a highly-regarded coach, with the progress and development of the club always remaining the highest priority.'

Mazzarri has been out of work since leaving Inter in 2014, but reached the Coppa Italia final with both Sampdoria and Napoli, before leading the latter to a runners-up finish in Serie A in 2012-13.