Troy Deeney has sensationally declined to dismiss the possibility of him managing Watford’s bitter rivals Luton Town.

Deeney made 419 appearances during an 11-year spell at the Hornets and left in 2021 as their fourth-highest record scorer on 140 goals.

Deeney is Watford’s all-time record Premier League scorerGetty

The 36-year-old is one of the greatest ever players to have featured for Watford, who have a bitter rivalry with M1 neighbours Luton.

Although Deeney is unlikely to have signed for the Hatters during his playing career, he hasn’t ruled out the prospect of managing them instead.

When he appeared on Matterface and Crook for talkSPORT, the panel discussed former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp’s new role as Red Bull’s Global Head of Soccer.

It’s a move that talkSPORT was told may have ‘destroyed his legacy’ in Germany, with Deeney then asked by Alex Crook if he’d risk tarnishing his legacy at Watford by taking the Luton hotseat.

“Well, it depends on the opportunity, but of course you would,” he said. “Rob Edwards has gone from Watford, his next job [was at Luton]…

“Yeah but, he wasn’t held in the same regard as you were at Vicarage Road,” said chief football correspondent Crook, although Deeney replied: “But this is the beauty of it all, right?

“I wasn’t held in the same regard when I first started, you build that over time.”

“But it would tarnish it if you went and worked for Luton, you know that you’d be persona non grata at Watford,” added Crook.

However, Deeney responded: “Well, I’m hardly exactly being asked to come back every single day from Watford anyway, am I? So it doesn’t really matter, it’s a job interview.

“Would you do it? Obviously most people sit here and go, ‘No, no, no, absolutely not!” But if they put £20million in front of you and a five-year deal, would you turn around and say no?”

Deeney played against rivals Luton during his time at WatfordGetty

But he refused to rule out managing the HatterstalkSPORT

Deeney is eyeing his next stint on the touchlineGetty

Deeney has had a brief spell in management at Forest Green Rovers, whom he first joined in the summer of 2023 as a player-coach.

He was then appointed as the then-League Two side’s head coach as their replacement for David Horseman later in the season.

However, Deeney endured a difficult spell as boss having failed to win any of his six games in charge, losing three and drawing three.

The former striker left his role at the beginning of the year and has not yet found a new role, although has hinted he will make a return.

“When I go back into management,” he told talkSPORT rather than ‘If’, before revealing Bayern Munich boss Vincent Kompany has offered his help.

Whilst a switch to Kenilworth Road remains doubtful, Luton have so far faced a difficult return to the Championship under Edwards.

The Hatters have just two wins from nine games in the division since their relegation from the Premier League, sitting 21st in the table.