Taylor calls it a day on coaching

London - Former England manager Graham Taylor will retire at the end of the season, his first division club Watford said on Thursday.

Taylor, 56, has been manager at Lincoln City, Watford, Aston Villa, Wolverhampton Wanderers and England from 1990 to 1993.

He was vilified by press and fans for England's failure to qualify for the 1994 World Cup and earned the nickname "Turnip head" for England's failure to beat Sweden in a European championship match in 1992.

Taylor, 56, guided Watford from division four to division one in his first spell as manager between 1977 and 1982 and brought top-flight football back to the club during his second spell.

They are currently eighth in the first division and battling for a place in the promotion playoffs.

"When I returned to Watford in 1996 I set out a five-year plan for the future of the club on an off the field," said Taylor, now in his sixth year back at the club.

"With the help of many people all of those targets have been achieved with our year in the premiership being an added bonus.

"After much consideration and after over 1 000 league games I have decided it is time for me to retire from club football management at the end of this season.

"My thanks and appreciation go to all Watford supporters for the wonderful times we have had during my two spells at Vicarage Road - in all a total of 15 years." - Reuters