Watford set sights on Wigan Athletic’s Shaun Maloney to be new manager – sources
Wigan Athletic boss Shaun Maloney is in the frame for the Watford manager’s job, sources have told Football Insider.
The Hornets are searching for a new manager following the sacking of Valerien Ismael earlier this month, with Tom Cleverley appointed interim boss until the end of the season.
Maloney, who was appointed in January 2023, has impressed at Wigan working under difficult financial constraints.
The Latics currently sit in 11th spot in League One this season with a 44% win percentage despite having an eight-point deduction and transfer embargo placed upon them after financial rule breaches.
Forward-thinking coach Maloney has helped blood five academy graduates into the first team this season – with the likes of Sam Tickle, Charlie Hughes and Baba Adeeko being called up to the England and Republic of Ireland Under-21 sides respectively.
The Scot also worked for three-and-a-half years as Roberto Martinez’s assistant in the senior Belgium setup, giving him experience of working with elite-level players within a European structure.
Could forward-thinking Maloney become Watford’s 22nd manager since Pozzo takeover?
Maloney’s only other managerial spell came at Hibernian, where he won six of a possible 19 games in the 2021-22 campaign.
He has played both a 3-4-3 and 4-2-3-1 formation with Wigan this season.
The former midfielder, who won the FA Cup with the Latics in 2013, made almost 400 career appearances before his retirement in 2017 – scoring 79 goals.
Watford are searching for their 22nd manager since the Pozzo family took over the club back in 2012.
The Hertfordshire club sit 13th in the Championship and are one of the few second-tier sides not challenging for the play-offs or battling relegation with eight games of this season to play.
In other news, Championship side put six senior players up for sale.
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