Xisco Munoz: Sheffield Wednesday appoint former Watford boss as new manager to replace Darren Moore

Xisco Munoz replaces Darren Moore, who surprisingly departed Sheffield Wednesday having guided the club to promotion to the Championship via the League One play-offs; Munoz steered Watford back into the Premier League having taken charge midway through the 2020-21 campaign

Wednesday 5 July 2023 09:29, UK

Sheffield Wednesday have appointed former Watford boss Xisco Munoz as their new manager.

The 42-year-old Spaniard replaces Darren Moore, who surprisingly departed the Owls having guided the club to promotion to the Championship via the League One play-offs.

Munoz steered Watford back into the Premier League having taken charge midway through the 2020-21 campaign, but was sacked during November 2021 after just 36 games in charge.

Former winger Munoz won both the LaLiga title and the UEFA Cup while at Valencia, before moving into management with Georgian club Dinamo Tbilisi and moved to Watford in December 2020.

A short statement on the Owls' club website read: "Sheffield Wednesday are delighted to announce the appointment of Xisco Munoz as our first-team manager.

"The Spaniard, who gained promotion to the Premier League with Watford in 2020/21, takes charge of the Owls with immediate effect."

Munoz will give his first press conference as the club's new manager at Hillsborough on Wednesday afternoon.

His first game in charge is the opening fixture of the new Championship season against Southampton on Friday August 4, live on Sky Sports.

'The Championship is about the details'

Sky Sports' Adam Bate spoke to Xisco Munoz in March about the Spaniard's playing days under Rafa Benitez at Valencia, that promotion success with Watford, and these views on his previous experience of working in the Championship:

"There are a lot of teams at the same level in the Championship, the difference is just a few points between success and failure. So, it is about the details. Sometimes you can play well and sometimes you can play badly, but you need to be the team that takes the spoils.

"It is about the psychology, the management of the group in the Championship. The players need to know what is required, you have to convince them to go again and again every three days. That is a part of football that people do not see but it is an important part."

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