Watford’s 2019 FA Cup final side – where are they now?

What a difference 12 months can make.

Rewind to the end of the 2018/19 season and Watford had finished just two points off the Premier League top half and had also reached the FA Cup final.

That day at Wembley was a memorable one for Hornets supporters, but for largely the wrong reasons as Javi Gracia’s side fell to a six-goal defeat to Manchester City.

Sadly for Watford, things have only worsened since. They endured a dreadful 2019/20 season, burned through three different head coaches, and suffered relegation from the top flight.

Was that defeat at Wembley a catalyst for the club’s downfall? Perhaps. But what has happened to the side which took to the field that day?

Heurelho Gomes

The experienced Brazilian goalkeeper, who was left in tears after the club’s relegation, left Vicarage Road this summer after his contract expired.

A key dressing room figure at Watford since arriving from Tottenham in 2014, he played 160 times for the club across six seasons.

Gomes did not feature in the Premier League across his final two campaigns at the club after the arrival of Ben Foster, however, and is now a free agent.

Kiko Femenia

The right-back has become a fixture in the Watford side since his move in the summer of 2017 from Alaves.

Capable of playing on either side of a back four, or further up the pitch if required, Femenia may be one of the players to depart this summer with Gracia supposedly keen on bringing him to new club Valencia.

Adrian Mariappa

Out of contract this summer, Mariappa’s second spell at Vicarage Road looks set to come to an end after a difficult campaign.

An academy graduate, the defender has racked up 338 first-team appearances across his two stints at Watford.

Craig Cathcart

The Northern Ireland international has been one of Watford’s most consistent performers across his six seasons at the club.

Having joined on a free transfer from Blackpool in 2014, Cathcart will hope to reclaim his place in the Watford defence next season after their relegation to the Championship.

Jose Holebas

The 36-year-old was another of the club’s ageing defence to exit at the end of the season.

Having joined Watford in 2015 from Roma, the colourful and somewhat controversial Greek international was a steady servant for the Golden Boys during the autumn of his career.

He didn’t start in any of the post-lockdown fixtures, however, and was released from his contract prior to Watford’s final-day defeat to Arsenal.

Gerard Deulofeu

The Spaniard is one of the players who faces an uncertain future at Vicarage Road following the club’s relegation.

He ruptured his anterior cruciate in the 3-0 win over Liverpool in February and could be ruled out until after the transfer window closes.

With Ismaila Sarr potentially departing, keeping Deulofeu at Vicarage Road could be important to Watford’s hopes of bouncing back at the first attempt.

Will Hughes

The central midfielder became Marco…