Tom Cleverley made permanent Watford manager

Tom Cleverley has been named the permanent Watford manager after seven games as interim boss.

The former England international midfielder took over from Valérien Ismaël and won his first game in charge of the Hornets last month away to Birmingham City.

Since then Cleverley has overseen six more games without a victory. However, Watford have lost just one of those games and have earned impressive points against promotion chasers Ipswich Town and Leeds United.

Despite the Watford job typically being a short-term one for managers, Cleverley is confident.

Speaking to BBC Sport yesterday, the former Manchester United player said: “There is a lot of unfinished business from my playing career. That drives me forward with my coaching.

“I didn’t achieve anything in the Champions League with Manchester United. The title we lost to [Manchester] City. I came to Watford when they were in the Premier League. I retired as a player with them in the Championship. None of it sits right.

“I left a few out there as a player. I probably lacked ambition. But as a coach, I am very ambitious.”

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— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) April 24, 2024