Javier "Javi" Gracia Carlos (Spanish pronunciation:[ˈxaβiˈɣɾaθja];[a] born 1 May 1970) is a Spanish football manager and former player who played as a defensive midfielder.
He totalled 430 matches across both major levels of Spanish football, in a 15-year professional career. After retiring he began working as a manager, going on to coach several clubs in Spain, Greece and Russia before being appointed at Watford in January 2018.[2]
Gracia led Watford to their second FA Cup final in their history in 2019, but was sacked later the same year.[3] From June 2020 to May 2021 he worked with Valencia, and a year later he won the Qatar Stars League during a brief spell at Al Sadd before managing Leeds United for three months in 2023.
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.[9][10] He appeared in 229 Spanish top-tier games over the course of nine seasons, netting 17 goals.[11]
Gracia returned to his country in June 2012, being hired by Almería.[23] He led the team back to the top flight in his one season,[24] but left after failing to agree new terms.[25]
Osasunaedit
On 4 September 2013, Gracia was appointed at his hometown club Osasuna on a two-year deal, replacing the fired José Luis Mendilibar.[26] On his top-flight debut eleven days later, he lost 2–1 at Getafe.[27] 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;[28] results included heavy defeats against his former teams and rivals Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao and a 7–0 loss at Barcelona,[29][30][31] but also a 3–0 home win over reigning champions Atlético Madrid on 23 February 2014.[32]
Málagaedit
Gracia was named the new manager of Málaga on 30 May 2014.[33] During his two-year tenure, he led the team to the ninth[34] and eighth position, respectively.[35]
On 21 January 2018, Gracia was named the new head coach of Watford on an 18-month contract following the dismissal of Marco Silva.[38] 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.[39]
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,[40] 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.[41] He was sacked on 7 September 2019, after a poor start to the season saw them bottom with just one point.[42]
Valenciaedit
Gracia returned to Spain's top division on 27 July 2020, agreeing to a two-year deal at Valencia.[43] The following 3 May, after a 3–2 home defeat to Barcelona that left the side in 14th place, he was dismissed.[44]
Al Saddedit
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.[45] The following 21 February, the team retained their title with an 8–2 win over Al Ahli.[46] He then left and was replaced by a third Spaniard, Juan Manuel Lillo.[47]
Leeds Unitededit
On 21 February 2023, Gracia returned to England and its top flight after replacing the sacked Jesse Marsch at the helm of Leeds United.[48] 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.[49] His debut took place four days later, a 1–0 home win over Southampton.[50]
Gracia was sacked on 3 May 2023, leaving the side 17th on the table with four fixtures remaining.[51][52] 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.[53]
Personal lifeedit
Gracia's parents were both teachers.[54][55] He is married with three sons, two of whom are twins.[56]
^ abc"Gracia: Javier Gracia Carlos: Manager". BDFutbol. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
^"Javi Gracia, 300 partidos entre jugador y entrenador en Primera" [Javi Gracia, 300 matches combined as player and manager in Primera]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 11 May 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
^Unwin, Will (7 September 2019). "Watford sack Javi Gracia and reappoint Quique Sánchez Flores". The Guardian. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
^"Gracia: "Las cifras goleadoras de Aduriz están por encima de la media"" [Gracia: "Aduriz's scoring figures are above the average"] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 5 December 2015. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
^ ab"Se cumplen 20 años del último ascenso a Primera de la UE Lleida" [20 years from UE Lleida's last promotion to Primera]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 5 June 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
^Olcina Anaya, Felipe (10 March 2016). "El pasado futbolista de todos los técnicos de la Liga" [The footballing past of all the League's managers] (in Spanish). Sphera Sports. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
^Ormazabal, Mikel (11 January 1999). "La Real reparte beneficios de la miseria" [Real share benefits of misery]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 January 2018.
^"Javier Gracia, nuevo técnico del Málaga Club de Fútbol" [Javier Gracia, new Málaga Club de Fútbol manager] (in Spanish). Málaga CF. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
^"Javi Gracia y Berruet se presentan con el Córdoba" [Javi Gracia and Berruet presented at Córdoba]. El Periódico Mediterráneo (in Spanish). 4 February 2003. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
^"Javi Gracia y su última tarde de fútbol en el Córdoba" [Javi Gracia and his last football afternoon at Córdoba] (in Spanish). Cordópolis. 16 October 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
^Criado, José (31 October 2015). "'Pitu' Abelardo y Javi Gracia: compañeros y rivales" ['Pitu' Abelardo and Javi Gracia: mates and rivals]. La Opinión de Málaga (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 January 2018.
^"Calleja: "Gracia es una referencia para los entrenadores que venimos de abajo"" [Calleja: "Gracia is a reference for us managers who come from below"] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. 10 February 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
^Martínez, Juan (2 June 2008). "Javi Gracia: "Me sentaré con el presidente, no quiero ser un obstáculo para el club"" [Javi Gracia: "I will sit down with the president, I don't want to stand in the club's way"]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 January 2018.
^Ramírez, Álvaro (26 May 2009). "Javi Gracia será el entrenador en Segunda" [Javi Gracia will be the manager in Segunda] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
^"El Cádiz destituye a su entrenador Javier Gracia" [Cádiz dismiss their manager Javi Gracia] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 10 January 2010. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
^"El excadista Javi Gracia, destituido en el Villarreal B por los malos resultados" [Ex-Cádiz Javi Gracia, dismissed in Villarreal B due to poor results] (in Spanish). La Voz Digital. 13 May 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
^Benítez, Alberto (7 June 2011). "El Olympiakos Volou contrata al técnico Javi Gracia" [Olympiakos Volou hire manager Javi Gracia]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 January 2018.
^"Olympiakos Volos and Kavala relegated in Greece". Daily Sabah. 29 July 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
^"Olympiacos Volou appeal rejected". UEFA. 15 August 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
^"Ανέλαβε την τεχνική ηγεσία της Κέρκυρας ο Χάβι Γκράθια" [Javi Gracia hired as manager of Kerkyra]. To Vima (in Greek). 14 November 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
^Ardila, Alberto (29 May 2014). "Javi Gracia, la serenidad y el trabajo a discreción al servicio de La Rosaleda" [Javi Gracia, serenity and discrete work at the service of La Rosaleda] (in Spanish). Vavel. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
^"Σολάκης: "Έχω απωθημένο τη συμμετοχή στον τελικό"" [Solakis: "I'm afraid to participate in the final"] (in Greek). Sport FM. 24 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
^"Xavi Gracia, técnico del Almería" [Xavi Gracia, manager of Almería]. As (in Spanish). 12 June 2012. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
^"Almería 3–0 Girona: Los andaluces, el vigésimo pasajero de Primera" [Almería 3–0 Girona: The Andalusians, Primera's twentieth passenger] (in Spanish). Goal. 22 June 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
^"Javi Gracia no seguirá entrenando al Almería" [Javi Gracia will not continue as Almería coach] (in Spanish). Goal. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
^"La Liga: Osasuna name former Almeria boss Javi Gracia as their new coach". Sky Sports. 4 September 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2013.
^"Javi Gracia: "A día de hoy somos muy blandos y muy cándidos"" [Javi Gracia: "Today we are very soft and very candid"]. Marca (in Spanish). 15 September 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
^"Osasuna desciende a Segunda División" [Osasuna go down to Segunda División] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. 18 May 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
^"El Real Madrid sufre pero le gana al Rayo" [Real Madrid suffer but beat Rayo] (in Spanish). BBC Mundo. 2 November 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
^"El Athletic golea en Pamplona y se consolida en la cuarta plaza" [Athletic rout in Pamplona and consolidate themselves in fourth place] (in Spanish). RTVE. 26 January 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
^Jurejko, Jonathan (16 March 2014). "Barcelona 7–0 Osasuna". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
^"Osasuna 3–0 Atlético Madrid". BBC Sport. 23 February 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
^"La Liga: Javi Gracia named the new manager of Malaga". Sky Sports. 30 May 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2014.
^"El Málaga confirma la marcha de Javi Gracia al Rubin Kazán" [Málaga confirm departure of Javi Gracia to Rubin Kazan]. Levante-EMV (in Spanish). 25 May 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
^"El Málaga repitió el octavo puesto de las temporadas 2001–02 y 2008–09" [Málaga repeated eighth place of 2001–02 and 2008–09 seasons]. La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 16 May 2016. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
^"Javi Gracia ficha por el Rubin Kazan" [Javi Gracia signs for Rubin Kazan]. Sport (in Spanish). 22 May 2016. Retrieved 27 August 2017.
^ abХавьер Грасия покидает «Рубин» [Javier Gracia leaves Rubin] (in Russian). FC Rubin Kazan. 8 June 2017. Retrieved 8 June 2017.
^ ab"Gracia named Hornets' head coach". Watford F.C. 21 January 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
^O'Keeffe, Greg (27 January 2018). "Southampton 1–0 Watford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 January 2018.
^Bradshaw, Joe (12 May 2019). "Watford 1–4 West Ham: Clinical Hammers secure top-10 finish". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
^"Watford stage classic FA Cup comeback to beat Wolves in semi-final". The Sydney Morning Herald. 8 April 2019. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
^Jackson, Elliot (7 September 2019). "Quique Sanchez Flores replaces Javi Garcia at Watford as Hornets turn to former boss". Evening Chronicle. Retrieved 8 September 2019.
^ ab"Official statement | Javi Gracia". Valencia CF. 27 July 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2020.
^"El Valencia destituye al técnico Javi Gracia después de perder contra el Barça" [Valencia dismiss manager Javi Gracia after losing against Barça]. El Periódico de Catalunya (in Spanish). 3 May 2021. Retrieved 3 May 2021.
^Gray, Ryan (7 December 2021). "Former Watford boss Javi Gracia named Al Sadd coach". Watford Observer. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
^ ab"Unstoppable Al Sadd rout Al Ahli to retain title in style". Gulf Times. 21 February 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2022.
^"Lillo replaces Gracia as Al Sadd coach". The Peninsula. 18 June 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
^"Javi Gracia agrees to become Leeds United head coach". Leeds United F.C. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
^"Leeds name ex-Watford boss Javi Gracia as manager". Reuters. 21 February 2023. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
^Dawkes, Phil (25 February 2023). "Leeds United 1–0 Southampton". BBC Sport. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
^Pope, Adam; Falkingham, Katie (2 May 2023). "Leeds set to sack manager Javi Gracia and in talks with Sam Allardyce". BBC Sport. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
^"Leeds sack Gracia with relegation looming, Allardyce takes over". Reuters. 3 May 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
^"Leeds United: Javi Gracia defends record after being replaced by Sam Allardyce". BBC Sport. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
^Ciriza, Alejandro; Pérez, Gorka (26 April 2014). ""Hubiera sido futbolista toda la vida"" ["I would have been a footballer all my life"]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 22 January 2018.
^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. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
^Affleck, Kevin (6 April 2019). "Gracia: "My sons are singing the songs"". Watford F.C. Retrieved 6 April 2019.
^"Gracia: Javier Gracia Carlos: Matches: 2006–07". BDFutbol. Retrieved 3 May 2018. "Gracia: Javier Gracia Carlos: Matches: 2007–08". BDFutbol. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
^"Gracia: Javier Gracia Carlos: Matches: 2008–09". BDFutbol. Retrieved 3 May 2018. "Gracia: Javier Gracia Carlos: Matches: 2009–10". BDFutbol. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
^"Gracia: Javier Gracia Carlos: Matches: 2010–11". BDFutbol. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
^"Gracia: Javier Gracia Carlos: Matches: 2012–13". BDFutbol. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
^"Gracia: Javier Gracia Carlos: Matches: 2013–14". BDFutbol. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
^"Gracia: Javier Gracia Carlos: Matches: 2014–15". BDFutbol. Retrieved 3 May 2018. "Gracia: Javier Gracia Carlos: Matches: 2015–16". BDFutbol. Retrieved 3 May 2018.
^"Javi Gracia Carlos signs as Rubin Kazan boss". The Score. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
^"El Pontevedra, campeón desmotivado ante el Pájara" [Pontevedra, unmotivated champions against Pájara]. Faro de Vigo (in Spanish). 21 May 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
^Jiménez, Francisco José (24 May 2019). "El aniversario de dos ascensos cadistas" [Anniversary of two Cádiz promotions] (in Spanish). El Desmarque. Retrieved 27 June 2019.
^McNulty, Phil (18 May 2019). "Manchester City 6–0 Watford". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 June 2019.
^"Manager profile: Javier Gracia". Premier League. Retrieved 19 September 2018.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Javier Gracia Carlos.