Championship side Watford have announced Tom Cleverley as their new head coach after impressing during his interim spell, according to official club media.
Despite being just 34 years of age, the ex-Manchester United midfielder succeeds former Hornets boss Valerien Ismael, who was dismissed in March.
Taking the reins on a temporary basis, the former England international has spent seven games in the hot-seat, winning his first game in charge against Birmingham City. He then went onto draw five before his first defeat against promotion-chasing Southampton. During those seven games, he has faced five of the top seven in the Championship.
Cleverley made his first move into coaching with Watford’s Academy in July 2023, guiding the Under-18s to second place in the Professional Development League. He also took the youngsters to two cup semi-finals.
The midfielder spent seven seasons with Manchester United, where he played 79 times. He was also a part of the Premier League winning squad in the 2012/13 season. He then had a short spell at Everton before joining Watford in 2017, playing for the Hertfordshire side over 180 times.
Cleverley now becomes Watford’s 11th permanent head coach since 2018 and eighth since the end of the 2020-21 season. The former midfielder has already shown his side to be well-drilled defensively, with them getting no less than four clean sheets from the seven games he has taken temporary charge before getting the role full time.
His side face Sunderland at home on Saturday before the final game of the season when they travel to the North East to face Middlesbrough.
Writer’s View
Cleverley hasn’t done too badly in his seven interim games but surely this is a surprise to Hornets fans given that he’s taken eight points from a possible 21. That being said, he is a popular figure at Vicarage Road and it could be a popular appointment.
Providing the fans and board are patient with him, this could be a stroke of genius and if not, then it’s a low-cost financial gamble. The 34-year-old also wins here as he gets to cut his teeth at senior management.
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