#INSERT type:image caption:Jokanovic has been appointed Watford manager after coaching spells in Serbia, Thailand, Bulgaria and Spain. END#
Watford have appointed former Yugoslavia and Serbia & Montenegro international Slavisa Jokanovic as their new head coach, replacing Billy McKinlay after just eight days and two unbeaten games in charge.
Jokanovic, 46, becomes the Hornets' fourth manager in just 37 days, following the departure of Giuseppe Sannino, who resigned on Aug. 31 amid dressing room unrest, and Oscar Garcia, who stepped down on Sept. 29 after being admitted to hospital with chest problems.
Former Chelsea midfielder Jokanovic has a wealth of coaching experience to his name, having led his native Partizan Belgrade to an unprecedented "double double" -- the Serbian SuperLiga and Super Cup - in 2007-08 and 2008-09, before an unbeaten title-winning spell at Thai outfit Muangthong United in 2012-13.
A less successful stint at Bulgarian side Levski Sofia followed before he then took charge of Spanish second-tier outfit Hercules.
OFFICIAL: Hornets confirm the appointment of Slaviša Jokanović as new Head Coach. More to come on #watfordfc.com shortly.
- Official #watfordfc (@watfordfcsays) October 7, 2014
Watford currently sit joint-first in the Championship table, third on goal difference, and the club's owner Gino Pozzo has backed Jokanovic to continue Watford's push for promotion.
"Our job is always to act in the best long-term interests of this football club. There can be no compromise on this -- whatever the circumstances," he told the club's official website.
"I fully support and endorse the view from our technical staff that, given the talented squad which has been assembled and our position in the league, an experienced head coach with a winning pedigree is of primary importance to help ensure the success we are all striving for.
"The supporters of Watford have always been very understanding towards our project here and I am certain they will continue to do everything they can to support the new coach and his squad."
Jokanovic's first game in charge will be the trip to ninth-placed Sheffield Wednesday on Oct. 18.