Profile: Javi Gracia

Javi Gracia has been appointed as Valencia CF coach on a two-year deal, and brings with him a wealth of experience both in Spain and abroad, as well as a penchant for entertaining, attacking football.

Born in Pamplona in the Navarra region on May 1st, 1970, the former defensive midfielder spent the entirety of his playing career in his homeland, turning out for Real Valladolid, Real Sociedad, and Villarreal CF. It was at the latter club that he began his coaching career in 2004, managing the youth teams.

In 2007 he took over at Spanish Tercera División team Pontevedra, before leading Cádiz CF to promotion to the Segunda División in the 2008/09 season. The Spaniard departed the club midway through the 2009/10 campaign, returning to Villarreal CF to coach their B team the following season.

After spells in Greece with Olympiakos Volou and Kerkyra, Garcia came back to Spain and secured another promotion, this time guiding UD Almeria into the Primera División. Whilst he would leave the Andalusian side at the end of the season, he would make his top flight coaching debut in September of 2013 with CA Osasuna.

A two-year stint at Malaga saw the club finish ninth and eighth, respectively, in LaLiga. Since then, the coach has been plying his trade abroad, first in the Russian Premier League with Rubin Kazan, then the English Premier League with Watford. Under his management, The Hornets achieved their best ever position in the table, and reached the 2019 FA Cup Final.

In his coaching career so far, Gracia has given several young, homegrown players their debuts and supported their development in the first team.