Javi Gracia

Playing career

Born in Pamplona, Navarre, Gracia started playing professionally with Bilbao Athletic, Athletic Bilbao's reserves, never appearing officially for the first team. In the 1992–93 campaign, he scored a career-best 12 goals in all 38 games as Lleida returned to La Liga after an absence of more than 40 years, as champions.

Gracia spent the following six seasons in the top flight, appearing regularly for both Real Valladolid and Real Sociedad until 1998–99 (15 matches, one goal). In 1999, he returned to Segunda División and signed for Villarreal, helping the Valencian club to get promoted to the top division after one year and being regularly used the following campaign – 1,764 minutes of action – as the team retained their status.

In February 2003, after being scarcely played in his last one and a half seasons at Villarreal, the 32-year-old Gracia joined Córdoba in the second level, closing out his career in June of the following year. He appeared in 229 Spanish top-tier games over the course of nine seasons, netting 17 goals.

Coaching career

Early years

After starting his managerial career with the youth sides of his former club Villarreal, Gracia worked in the Segunda División B with Pontevedra, finishing first and second with the team in the regular season but always falling short in the promotion playoffs.

In 2008–09, still in the third division, Gracia finally achieved promotion, now with Cádiz, but he was fired midway through the following season as the Andalusians were immediately relegated. In the 2010–11 campaign, with Villarreal's reserves, he managed to avert a drop also in the second tier, even though José Francisco Molina was in charge for the final four fixtures.

Greece

In June 2011, Gracia was hired by Olympiacos Volos, who had finished fifth in the Super League Greece. He debuted with the first European fixtures of his managerial career, eliminating Rad and Differdange from the UEFA Europa League qualifiers, but the team were then expelled from the top flight and European competition due to their alleged involvement in the Koriopolis match-fixing scandal.

Having terminated his contract, Gracia remained in the same league for the rest of 2011–12 at Kerkyra. He took the Corfu-based club to the last eight of the national cup, where they lost by a single goal at Asteras Tripolis.

Almería

Gracia returned to his country in June 2012, being hired by Almería. He led the team back to the top flight in his one season, but left after failing to agree new terms.

Osasuna

On 4 September 2013, Gracia was appointed at his hometown club Osasuna on a two-year deal, replacing the fired José Luis Mendilibar. On his top-flight debut eleven days later, he lost 2–1 at Getafe. His team were relegated in 18th place on the last day, ending 14 years in the top division, despite winning 2–1 against already condemned Real Betis; results included heavy defeats against his former teams and rivals Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao and a 7–0 loss at Barcelona, but also a 3–0 home win over reigning champions Atlético Madrid on 23 February 2014.

Málaga

Gracia was named the new manager of Málaga on 30 May 2014. During his two-year tenure, he led the team to the ninth and eighth position, respectively.

Rubin Kazan

Before the start of the 2016–17 season, Gracia joined Rubin Kazan. After only achieving a ninth-place finish in the Russian Premier League, he left the club by mutual consent.

Watford

On 21 January 2018, Gracia was named the new head coach of Watford on an 18-month contract following the dismissal of Marco Silva. His first game in charge took place six days later, in a 1–0 away loss against Southampton in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

In the 2018–19 campaign, Gracia again coached the team to safety in the Premier League, the 11th place being their highest since 1986–87, and took them to the final of the FA Cup for the first time in 35 years and for only the second time in the club's history. He was sacked on 7 September 2019, after a poor start to the season saw them bottom with just one point.

Valencia

Gracia returned to Spain's top division on 27 July 2020, agreeing to a two-year deal at Valencia. The following 3 May, after a 3–2 home defeat to Barcelona that left the side in 14th place, he was dismissed.

Al Sadd

On 7 December 2021, Gracia was hired by Al Sadd in the Qatar Stars League, after his compatriot Xavi had left for Barcelona; he signed until 2023 with the option of one more year. The following 21 February, the team retained their title with an 8–2 win over Al Ahli. He then left and was replaced by a third Spaniard, Juan Manuel Lillo.

Leeds United

On 21 February 2023, Gracia returned to England and its top flight after replacing the sacked Jesse Marsch at the helm of Leeds United. The club announced the contract would be "flexible" but did not elaborate on that statement, further saying Gracia's appointment would be subject to the issuance of a work permit. His debut took place four days later, a 1–0 home win over Southampton.

Gracia was sacked on 3 May 2023, leaving the side 17th on the table with four fixtures remaining. He defended his record, noting that he had taken the team out of the relegation zone and had earned more points in his 11 games than four clubs around them.

Return to Watford

On 8 October 2025, Gracia returned to Watford for a second spell after Paulo Pezzolano was dismissed. He stepped down from his position on 1 February 2026.

Personal life

Gracia's parents were both teachers. He is married with three sons, two of whom are twins.

Managerial statistics

Honours

Player

Lleida

• Segunda División: 1992–93

Manager

Pontevedra

• Segunda División B: 2006–07

Cádiz

• Segunda División B: 2008–09

Watford

• FA Cup runner-up: 2018–19

Al Sadd

• Qatar Stars League: 2021–22

Individual

• Premier League Manager of the Month: August 2018

Notes

References

References

1. {{WorldFootball.net. gracia
2. (11 May 2015). "Javi Gracia, 300 partidos entre jugador y entrenador en Primera". [[Mundo Deportivo]].
3. Unwin, Will. (7 September 2019). "Watford sack Javi Gracia and reappoint Quique Sánchez Flores". [[The Guardian]].
4. (5 December 2015). "Gracia: "Las cifras goleadoras de Aduriz están por encima de la media"". El Desmarque.
5. (5 June 2013). "Se cumplen 20 años del último ascenso a Primera de la UE Lleida". Mundo Deportivo.
6. Olcina Anaya, Felipe. (10 March 2016). "El pasado futbolista de todos los técnicos de la Liga". Sphera Sports.
7. Ormazabal, Mikel. (11 January 1999). "La Real reparte beneficios de la miseria". [[El País]].
8. (30 May 2014). "Javier Gracia, nuevo técnico del Málaga Club de Fútbol". Málaga CF.
9. "Memoria de La Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional {{!}} Temporada 2000/2001". [[La Liga]].
10. (4 February 2003). "Javi Gracia y Berruet se presentan con el Córdoba". El Periódico Mediterráneo.
11. (16 October 2014). "Javi Gracia y su última tarde de fútbol en el Córdoba". Cordópolis.
12. Criado, José. (31 October 2015). "'Pitu' Abelardo y Javi Gracia: compañeros y rivales". La Opinión de Málaga.
13. (10 February 2016). "Calleja: "Gracia es una referencia para los entrenadores que venimos de abajo"". El Desmarque.
14. Martínez, Juan. (2 June 2008). "Javi Gracia: "Me sentaré con el presidente, no quiero ser un obstáculo para el club"". [[Faro de Vigo]].
15. Ramírez, Álvaro. (26 May 2009). "Javi Gracia será el entrenador en Segunda". El Desmarque.
16. (10 January 2010). "El Cádiz destituye a su entrenador Javier Gracia". [[Europa Press]].
17. (13 May 2011). "El excadista Javi Gracia, destituido en el Villarreal B por los malos resultados". La Voz Digital.
18. (31 May 2011). "El Villarreal B aspira a ser el mejor filial del siglo XXI en 2ª A". El Periódico Mediterráneo.
19. Benítez, Alberto. (7 June 2011). "El Olympiakos Volou contrata al técnico Javi Gracia". [[Marca (newspaper).
20. (29 July 2011). "Olympiakos Volos and Kavala relegated in Greece". [[Daily Sabah]].
21. (15 August 2011). "Olympiacos Volou appeal rejected". UEFA.
22. (14 November 2011). "Ανέλαβε την τεχνική ηγεσία της Κέρκυρας ο Χάβι Γκράθια". [[To Vima]].
23. Ardila, Alberto. (29 May 2014). "Javi Gracia, la serenidad y el trabajo a discreción al servicio de La Rosaleda". [[Vavel]].
24. (24 February 2012). "Σολάκης: "Έχω απωθημένο τη συμμετοχή στον τελικό"". Sport FM.
25. (12 June 2012). "Xavi Gracia, técnico del Almería". [[Diario AS]].
26. (22 June 2013). "Almería 3–0 Girona: Los andaluces, el vigésimo pasajero de Primera". [[Goal (website).
27. (28 June 2013). "Javi Gracia no seguirá entrenando al Almería". Goal.
28. (4 September 2013). "La Liga: Osasuna name former Almeria boss Javi Gracia as their new coach". [[Sky Sports]].
29. (15 September 2013). "Javi Gracia: "A día de hoy somos muy blandos y muy cándidos"". Marca.
30. (18 May 2014). "Osasuna desciende a Segunda División". [[Cadena SER]].
31. (2 November 2013). "El Real Madrid sufre pero le gana al Rayo". [[BBC Mundo]].
32. (26 January 2014). "El Athletic golea en Pamplona y se consolida en la cuarta plaza". [[RTVE]].
33. Jurejko, Jonathan. (16 March 2014). "Barcelona 7–0 Osasuna". BBC Sport.
34. (23 February 2014). "Osasuna 3–0 Atlético Madrid". BBC Sport.
35. (30 May 2014). "La Liga: Javi Gracia named the new manager of Malaga". Sky Sports.
36. (25 May 2016). "El Málaga confirma la marcha de Javi Gracia al Rubin Kazán". [[Levante-EMV]].
37. (16 May 2016). "El Málaga repitió el octavo puesto de las temporadas 2001–02 y 2008–09". [[La Vanguardia]].
38. (22 May 2016). "Javi Gracia ficha por el Rubin Kazan". [[Sport (Spanish newspaper).
39. link. FC Rubin Kazan. (8 June 2017)
40. (21 January 2018). "Gracia named Hornets' head coach". Watford F.C..
41. O'Keeffe, Greg. (27 January 2018). "Southampton 1–0 Watford". BBC Sport.
42. Bradshaw, Joe. (12 May 2019). "Watford 1–4 West Ham: Clinical Hammers secure top-10 finish". BBC Sport.
43. (8 April 2019). "Watford stage classic FA Cup comeback to beat Wolves in semi-final". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
44. Jackson, Elliot. (7 September 2019). "Quique Sanchez Flores replaces Javi Garcia at Watford as Hornets turn to former boss". [[Evening Chronicle]].
45. (27 July 2020). "Official statement {{!}} Javi Gracia". Valencia CF.
46. (3 May 2021). "El Valencia destituye al técnico Javi Gracia después de perder contra el Barça". [[El Periódico (Barcelona).
47. Gray, Ryan. (7 December 2021). "Former Watford boss Javi Gracia named Al Sadd coach". [[Watford Observer]].
48. (21 February 2022). "Unstoppable Al Sadd rout Al Ahli to retain title in style". [[Gulf Times]].
49. (18 June 2022). "Lillo replaces Gracia as Al Sadd coach". [[The Peninsula (newspaper).
50. (21 February 2023). "Javi Gracia agrees to become Leeds United head coach". Leeds United F.C..
51. (21 February 2023). "Leeds name ex-Watford boss Javi Gracia as manager". [[Reuters]].
52. Dawkes, Phil. (25 February 2023). "Leeds United 1–0 Southampton". BBC Sport.
53. (2 May 2023). "Leeds set to sack manager Javi Gracia and in talks with Sam Allardyce". BBC Sport.
54. (3 May 2023). "Leeds sack Gracia with relegation looming, Allardyce takes over". Reuters.
55. (4 May 2023). "Leeds United: Javi Gracia defends record after being replaced by Sam Allardyce". BBC Sport.
56. (8 October 2025). "Watford sack Pezzolano and reappoint Gracia". BBC Sport.
57. (1 February 2026). "Club Statement: Javi Gracia". Watford F.C..
58. (26 April 2014). ""Hubiera sido futbolista toda la vida"". El País.
59. Liew, Jonathan. (15 March 2019). "Watford vs Crystal Palace: 'We have values other clubs don't have. We are a family. We have solidarity' – the Javi Gracia interview". [[The Independent]].
60. Affleck, Kevin. (6 April 2019). "Gracia: "My sons are singing the songs"". Watford F.C..
61. {{BDFutbol season. l2644. 2006-07
    {{BDFutbol season. l2644. 2007-08
62. {{BDFutbol season. l2644. 2008-09
    {{BDFutbol season. l2644. 2009-10
63. {{BDFutbol season. l2644. 2010-11
64. {{Soccerway coach. xabier-gracia/164995
65. {{BDFutbol season. l2644. 2012-13
66. {{BDFutbol season. l2644. 2013-14
67. {{BDFutbol season. l2644. 2014-15
    {{BDFutbol season. l2644. 2015-16
68. (27 May 2016). "Javi Gracia Carlos signs as Rubin Kazan boss". The Score.
69. (21 May 2007). "El Pontevedra, campeón desmotivado ante el Pájara". Faro de Vigo.
70. Jiménez, Francisco José. (24 May 2019). "El aniversario de dos ascensos cadistas". El Desmarque.
71. McNulty, Phil. (18 May 2019). "Manchester City 6–0 Watford". BBC Sport.
72. "Manager profile: Javier Gracia". [[Premier League]].