Gracia Backs Quartet For Coaching Roles

Watford boss Javi Gracia says Troy Deeney is one of four players he thinks can become a coach when they retire from playing.

Moving into a coaching role after retiring seems to be the norm for footballers these days, with the likes of Mikel Arteta, John Terry, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard all taking up positions at different clubs in recent years after retiring.

Former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry recently had a failed stint as Monaco boss while the Frenchman’s ex-Gunners team-mate Patrick Vieira is in charge of Ligue 1 outfit Nice.

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Watford manager Gracia has been running the rule over players in his squad he thinks have what it takes to move into coaching, and he has picked out captain Deeney and three others, including Tom Cleverley and Adrian Mariappa. “There are players now in this moment.

I see (Tom) Cleverley, I see (Adrian) Mariappa, I see Troy, I see (Adam) Masina,” he was quoted as saying by the Watford Observer. “In this moment if you ask me I tell you they can be coaches.”