Official: Cleverley Confirmed As Permanent Head Coach

Watford FC is delighted to confirm the permanent appointment of Tom Cleverley as the Hornets’ Head Coach.

Since taking the role on an interim basis last month, the 34-year-old has guided the team through a run of seven Sky Bet Championship fixtures – five of which against teams in the league’s top seven.

The Hornets have lost just once during that period, keeping four clean sheets on the way to five draws and one win.

Having retired from playing through injury last summer, Cleverley made his first move into coaching with the Watford FC Academy in July, guiding the Under-18s to second place in the Professional Development League table – as well as two cup semi-finals – prior to taking up the first-team Interim Head Coach position in March.

As a player, a 20-year-old Cleverley lifted the Hornets’ Player of the Season trophy after a stand-out 2009/10 campaign on loan from Manchester United, with whom he would go on to win the Premier League three years later.

The ex-England international returned to Vicarage Road in 2017 and became a key member of the team during four-and-a-half Premier League seasons, also contributing towards the run to the 2019 FA Cup final and automatic promotion from the Championship in 2020/21.

Club Captain during his final year on the playing staff, Cleverley hung up his boots with 182 games and 19 goals on his Watford record.

A full first-team staffing structure for the 2024/25 season will be confirmed soon.