Slaven Bilic is replaced as head coach by Chris Wilder.

After firing Slaven Bilic, Watford named Chris Wilder as their new head coach.

After only five months in charge, Bilic, 54, resigned after only one victory in eight Championship games.

When Javi Gracia left Watford in September 2019, Wilder is the club’s eighth full-time manager. He has a contract that runs through the end of the current campaign.

Watford, who was demoted from the Premier League last season, is currently ninth in the standings and four points outside of the playoffs.

Technical director Ben Manga told the club website, “We are all ambitious to succeed this season, so something new is needed swiftly while the prospect of promotion is still real.

“Changing coaches is the only option open to re-energise for the upcoming final games, with the January transfer window closed.”

Claudio Ranieri, Roy Hodgson, Quique Sanchez Flores, Nigel Pearson, Vladimir Ivic, Xisco Munoz, Edwards, and Bilic have all served as managers since Gracia was fired four months after leading the team to the 2019 FA Cup final.

In September, Bilic took over for Rob Edwards, who had been in charge for just 11 games.

After serving as manager for 11 months, Middlesbrough fired Wilder, 55, in October.

Before quitting in March 2021, he guided his hometown team Sheffield United to two promotions from League One to the Premier League.

Middlesbrough was in the Championship relegation zone when he left the club in November of that year after taking over.

Watford’s first game under Wilder will be on Saturday at struggling QPR.