I know football! - Cannavaro laments Watford, Everton rejection

Former Ballon d'Or winner Fabio Cannavaro has opened up on losing out on the vacant manager roles at Watford and Everton.

Both Premier League clubs overlooked the Italian manager after sacking their managers within the last month, instead choosing to appoint Roy Hodgson and Frank Lampard respectively.

In an interview with The Sun, the World Cup-winning captain stated that the perception that he does not know the league well enough is untrue.

"Sometimes when people think about me maybe they think that I don’t know the league, that I don’t have experience in Europe," the former Juventus defender said.

"But it’s football. I know what is happening in the clubs, in the changing rooms.

Cannavaro admitted that he was interviewed by Watford and Everton for their vacant managerial positions and he remains proud that he was even if he lost the jobs. 

The 48-year-old said: "But, no, I was proud that Everton and Watford, also, asked me to have an interview and I really appreciate that.”

Cannavaro has been in full-time management since 2013, coaching teams in Asia and the Middle East such as Al-Ahli, Al-Nassr, Tianjin Guangjian, Guangzhou and the China National team.

Watford sacked Claudio Ranieri after the Italian tactician left the Hornets in 19th place, with the Premier League-winning manager recording 11 losses, two wins and one draw during a four-month spell at Vicarage Road.