Meet the opposition | Watford
As Swansea City prepare to face Watford, we take a closer look at the Hornets.
What's their story?
Established in 1881 as Watford Rovers, the club changed name to its current moniker in 1898.
Affectionately known as the Hornets or the Golden Boys, Watford gained Football League status in 1920 and, after spending 60 years in the lower divisions, gained promotion to the top-flight for the first time in 1982.
Under the ownership of Elton John and management of Graham Taylor the club finished as runners-up to Liverpool in that maiden First Division campaign.
In a golden era for the club, they spent six seasons in the top-flight, and reached the FA Cup final in 1984.
Recently, Watford have competed in the Premier League in six out of the last 10 seasons, but it has been a period of regular managerial upheaval with the Hornets going through 22 managers in the last 12 years.
The latest changes happened in the summer, with Tom Cleverley being replaced by Paulo Pezzolano, and then in October when Javi Gracia returned for a second stint at the helm.
How's their form?
The Golden Boys ended 2025 with a run of six games unbeaten, and then defeated Birmingham on New Year's Day.
But they have not won since, suffering an FA Cup exit at Bristol City before losing to Millwall and drawing with Portsmouth and Blackburn.
They are currently eigith in the table, just a point off the play-offs.
Who’s the gaffer?
Javi Gracia. The Spaniard is back at Vicarage Road and in his second spell as Hornets boss after rejoining the club in October 2025.
His original stint saw him appointed in January 2018, he led the club out of relegation danger before guiding them to an 11th-place finish and the FA Cup final the following campaign.
A robust midfielder as a player, the 55-year-old featured for Athletic Bilbao 'B', Lleida, Real Vallodolid, Real Sociedad, Villarreal and Cordoba.
He moved into coaching in the Villarreal youth set-up, and has since had stints in charge of Pontevedra, Cadiz, Villarreal 'B', Olympiacos Volos, Kerkyra, Almeria, Osasuna, Malaga, Rubin Kazan, Valencia, Al-Sadd, Leeds United and Watford.
Who’s the captain?
Imran Louza. The French-born Morocco midfielder is in his fifth season at Vicarage Road and has been a start performer with six goals and six assists to his name.
A product of the Nantes academy, the talented playmaker came through the ranks to reach the first team, scoring 12 goals in 67 appearances.
He joined Watford for a reported 10million Euros fee in the summer of 2021 and made 20 Premier League apperances in his first campaign in English football.
However a broken leg curtailed his 2022-23 season, meaning he missed Morocco's brilliant run to the semi-finals of the World Cup,
He spent the second half of the 2023-24 campaign on loan with Lorient, and returned to the Golden Boys the following summer and has been a regular and key player over the last two seasons.
Who are the key men?
Luca Kjerrumgaard has had an eye-catching season on loan in Hertfordshire, having joined from Udinese.
The Danish striker is Watford's topscorer this season with seven goals to his name and has adapted well to the physicality of the Championship.
The 22-year-old started his career in his homeland with Odense, and had spells on loan with Nykobing and Stabaek.
A reliable goalscorer, he made the move to Udinese earlier this summer and was loaned straight out to the Hornets.
Defender Jeremy Ngakia is a proven Championship performer, and is now heading towards the end of his sixth season with Watford.
The Deptford-born right-back was in the youth ranks at West Ham United and made five Premier League appearances for the Hammers before making the move to the Hornets.
Injuries have frustrated him at various points and mean he brought up a century of league appearances for Watford just last year but, when fit, he has been an integral figure.
Defender Mattie Pollock has been a stand-out figure over the last couple of seasons for the Hornets, having started 42 of their 46 Championship fixtures last term.
The 24-year-old had spells in the youth ranks with Middlesbrough and Leeds United, before joining Grimsby Town.
He progressed to reach the Mariners’ senior team and his showings for the League Two club would lead Watford to move to sign him in the summer of 2021.
Pollock picked up further first-team experience with Cheltenham Town and Aberdeen before establishing himself at Vicarage Road during the 2024-24 campaign.