Vialli named new Watford boss

Sir Elton said: "I am incredibly excited that we have appointed Luca and his team. Following Graham Taylor, who is a legend, is difficult.

"When the board said they were thinking of getting Vialli I said that as a player he was one of my favourites. As a manager he did an incredible job at Chelsea.

"It is one of the most stunning coups we have pulled off. It is the most exciting management appointment we could have made. I am sure Luca will build an incredible team. I know the supporters will support him. I can't wait for the beginning of next season. It is great that such a man of international status has taken over."

The patronage of such a charismatic chairman, of course, means that the Vicarage Road locals are hardly likely to be in awe of Vialli, who joined the distinguished list of ex-Chelsea managers when he was sacked by Ken Bates in September.

What Vialli will find is that in the matters of winning and losing, the demands and expectations are no more or less than they were at Stamford Bridge. The prizes may carry less prestige, but Watford and their fans want success just as much as Chelsea.

In little more than two seasons as a fledgling coach Vialli won five trophies at Chelsea - including the European Cup Winners' Cup and the two domestic cups - though his predecessor, Ruud Gullit, has to take some of the credit for laying the foundations for these successes.

Vialli knows it will not be as easy at Watford, where good housekeeping is a key element in the club's long-term survival. But at least he will be his own man, starting afresh, rather like the Versace executive going back to the local cotton mill to relearn the basics of the trade. This process has already started. By the end of the summer he should have successfully completed the Football Association course that will give him his UEFA 'B' coaching licence.

Many people, both here and in Italy, will admire the determination with which he has pursued his ambition to become one of the world's outstanding coaches.

He was, of course, one of the world's outstanding players in a career with Cremonese, Sampdoria, Juventus and Chelsea. He also scored 19 goals in 56 games for Italy. Vialli's arrival will give Watford a higher profile next season, which is not in any sense meant to diminish the role of Taylor. As a former England manager, Taylor's place is secure in the record books, but he spent 10 years at Vicarage Road when his coaching career was still in the apprenticeship stage as Vialli's is today.

However, unlike Vialli, Taylor is as much a part of Watford's recent history as Elton John. He is one of those rare specimens in football management who has actually retired with his boots on, rather than been sacked.

Taylor followed the traditional working-class route into management whereas Vialli is the classic example of the nouveau riche in English football. Together they reflect the profound changes in the status of the professional game in recent years.

Vialli comes from a privileged background in Cremona, northern Italy, where his father was head of a building and property empire. The family home is a vast 16th-century Renaissance villa and Vialli's own flat in London reflects a refined taste in furniture.

He'll commute each day from his home in Eaton Square to Watford, though in Italy they believe that sooner, rather than later, he'll be installed - with the correct licence - in Serie A. The Juventus fans were calling for him to return as manager last Sunday.

Such a challenge, he reckoned last year, was still beyond him, but Watford may bridge that gap in his education.

Taylor has welcomed Vialli's arrival but the outgoing manager is sad his coaching staff will be leaving Vicarage Road.

He said: "I totally support his appointment but I am disappointed people like Luther Blissett and Kenny Jackett have been asked to go without having an opportunity to show what they can do.

"It saddens me because Kenny has been here since he was 13.

"The back-room staff are often innocent victims. Obviously I'm biased but they've got a proven record as both of them have played at the highest level.

"I am concerned about the continuity but I do understand Luca doesn't really know them and I understand why it's happened.

"But what pleases me is that I'm handing the baby over to a person who understands the club - he's intelligent enough to quickly understand it. My job now is to make sure that I can pass on the baton of this club to Luca and any help I can give him will be free of charge."

Taylor has welcomed Vialli's arrival but the outgoing manager is sad his coaching staff will be leaving Vicarage Road.

He said: "I totally support his appointment but I am disappointed people like Luther Blissett and Kenny Jackett have been asked to go without having an opportunity to show what they can do.

"It saddens me because Kenny has been here since he was 13.

"The back-room staff are often innocent victims. Obviously I'm biased but they've got a proven record as both of them have played at the highest level.

"I am concerned about the continuity but I do understand Luca doesn't really know them and I understand why it's happened.

"But what pleases me is that I'm handing the baby over to a person who understands the club - he's intelligent enough to quickly understand it. My job now is to make sure that I can pass on the baton of this club to Luca and any help I can give him will be free of charge."