“Hard as nails, ruthless and a tough nut,” is how one source who worked closely with Vladimir Ivic in his last job at Maccabi Tel Aviv described the Serbian who — The Athletic can exclusively reveal — will be Watford’s new head coach.
Talks between his representatives and the Championship club’s hierarchy moved to an advanced stage on Tuesday. Final negotiations, including length of contract — which will be a two-year term — reached an amicable conclusion today in three separate locations, with Ivic at his home in Greece, his agent (who was unable to travel to the UK due to quarantine regulations) in Portugal and the Watford hierarchy in Hertfordshire. It means plans can be put in place for the 43-year-old to be introduced to the squad as Watford’s 12th head coach in eight years when they return for pre-season training next week.
Watford had also made initial enquiries about fellow Championship side…
