It’s already obvious Watford will achieve Championship play-off place in 2025/26, they mean business

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The return of Championship football may be months away, but there are early causes for optimism over Watford in the upcoming second tier season.

Next season’s Championship is poised to be one of the most competitive second tier seasons to date.

The two Hollywood-backed promoted teams are targeting successive promotions. With Wrexham making history last season and Birmingham City’s sights set on breaking another record, the duo bring resources and quality with them from League One.

Play-off failures Sheffield United, Coventry City, and Bristol City will all hope to go one better next season after Sunderland earned Premier League promotion through the play-offs.

Alongside that trio, several other second tier outfits will also be fighting for a top-six place next term, and we believe Watford are early favourites to do just that.

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Watford mean business within the summer transfer window

Business has been buzzing at the Hornets throughout May after the 24/25 campaign concluded.

Head coach Tom Cleverley’s sacking was controversial, however, the Watford hierarchy has acted swiftly to appoint Paulo Pezzolano as his replacement.

After his appointment last month, Watford’s Sporting Director Gian Luca Nani told WatfordFC.com: “Paulo has a hugely impressive track record working with young players, which is essential when you look at the age profile of our squad,

“He has had success at virtually every club, including league titles and promotions.

“We believe Paulo is the leader we need as we refocus ahead of the new season. He is fully aware of our ambitions and determination to push for promotion and embraces that.”

In an early show of faith for the Uruguayan manager, the Hornets have added some quality to their ranks, with their first summer signing Hector Kyprianou making the step up from League One following the expiry of his Peterborough United contract.

Watford fans are confident over Kyprianou, and rightly so, after the 24-year-old’s impressive campaign at the base of the Posh’s midfield.

As well as the Cyprus international, Watford have recently added Nathan Baxter from Bolton Wanderers, with the ex-Chelsea player penning a two-year deal.

With the acquisitions of two quality recruits, and more to come as the summer transfer window continues, there is a growing sense of optimism at Vicarage Road, which will soften the concerns among supporters about Pezzolano.

The Championship is a notoriously difficult league to earn promotion from, but Watford are showing they mean business this summer and are intent on getting into the top six.

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Watford poised to do better in 2025/26 under Paulo Pezzolano

Over recent seasons, amid their managerial merry-go round, Watford have failed to finish in the top half of the table since the 2021/21 promotion-winning season.

The Hornets finished in 14th this season, one higher than the 23/24 campaign, but ultimately never posed a threat to the top end, and even less so to the promotion pack.

Watford’s squad that Pezzolano has inherited, on paper, is far greater than the form they exhibited last season, with seasoned professionals akin to Moussa Sissoko alongside stellar attacking outlets like Giorgi Chakvetadze.

Pezzolano arrives having masterminded promotions in various leagues as a head coach. He tasted title victory with Torque in 2017, led Cruzeiro to promotion in 2022, and achieved promotion with Valladolid back to the Spanish top tier in 2024.

Watford Sporting Director Nani added: “The club achieved great success when making similar appointments in Slaviša Jokanović, Javi Gracia and Xisco Muñoz,

“And we hope our fans welcome Paulo and wish him every success as we try to achieve the owner’s clear aim of challenging for a return to the Premier League.”

The challenge has been set for Pezzolano and his Hornets squad, with optimism evident after the appointment of a seasoned promotion specialist.

If their positive start to the summer can continue, with more quality reinforcements, Watford will be hoping to finish inside the play-off places since 2013.