Watford hand ex-Man United midfielder permanent job after impressive stint

Championship club Watford have confirmed the appointment of Tom Cleverley as their permanent manager today. 

The 34-year-old impressed during his stint as interim boss, leading the team to stability after a turbulent period.

Cleverley stepped into the role following Valerien Ismael’s dismissal in March. Despite facing a challenging run of fixtures, he steered the Hornets away from relegation danger. 

He boasts a record of one win and five draws in his seven games in charge.

This is a familiar stomping ground for Cleverley. He enjoyed three different spells at Vicarage Road as a player, twice on loan and once permanently. 

He even captained the club during his last season on the pitch before injuries forced his retirement last summer.

A natural transition followed. Cleverley joined Watford’s academy in July, and immediately enjoyed success as coach of the Under-18s. 

Under his guidance, the young Hornets secured second place in the league and reached the semi-finals of two cup competitions. This impressive performance paved the way for his promotion to interim manager.

Cleverley’s footballing journey began at Manchester United, where he rose through the youth ranks after joining the club at the age of 12. He was part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s title-winning squad in 2012/13 and earned 13 caps for England. 

Although unfair comparisons were drawn to club legends such as Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick, Cleverley carved out a respectable career with 79 appearances for the Red Devils before moving to Everton in 2015.

Cleverley will now continue his strong connection to Watford. His first task as permanent boss will come this weekend when they take on ninth-placed Middlesbrough.