Nigel Pearson was most recently the head coach of Watford during the 2019/20 campaign.

The defender's playing career spanned 17 years, including spells at Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough, making 75 Premier League appearances in total.

He retired at Middlesbrough following the 1997/98 season having captained them to promotion twice and to three domestic cup finals, before immediately making the transition into management.

Pearson started out at Carlisle United, whom he kept in the Football League on the final day of the 1998/99 season, before becoming a first-team coach at Stoke City.

He then moved to West Bromwich Albion as an assistant manager to Bryan Robson in November 2004 and had a brief spell as caretaker manager with the Baggies in September 2006.

A short stint working as assistant coach for England’s Under-21s was followed by two separate spells as a caretaker manager at Newcastle United before he took over as Southampton manager in February 2008.

Pearson maintained Saints' Championship status on the final day of the season before joining Leicester City ahead of the 2008/09 campaign.

He guided the Foxes to the League One title in his first season, before moving to Hull City in June 2010, but returned for a second stint at King Power Stadium in November 2011.

Pearson guided Leicester to the Championship trophy in 2013/14 and a 14th-placed finish on their return to the Premier League despite being bottom at Christmas - one of only three clubs to avoid relegation after being in 20th place heading into the festive period. He departed in June 2015.

Two years later Pearson was appointed as manager of Belgian side Oud-Heverlee Leuven after a short stint at Derby County.

Pearson replaced Quique Sanchez Flores at Watford in December 2019, with the Hornets bottom of the league.

Watford and Pearson parted company in July 2020 with two matches left of the 2019/20 season. The Hertfordshire club werenone place above the bottom three at the time.