Watford have announced that ex-Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley has left the club in yet another managerial change. A statement from the Championship side on Tuesday read: "Watford FC confirms the departure of Tom Cleverley as Head Coach.
"Cleverley stabilised performances at the end of the 2023/24 season in an interim position before his full-time appointment last summer. At one stage, the Golden Boys were part of the play-off picture but, unfortunately, performances and results drifted with just five wins in 2025."
Sporting Director Gian Luca Nani said: “We thank Tom for his service – not just in his role as Head Coach but for everything he has given Watford as a player and member of staff.
“But the time has come for a change and to build on what we believe is a young and talented squad that will have benefitted from the experience of the Championship this season.
“It has been a privilege to work closely with Tom; to understand how he sees the game and his enthusiasm for everything here. He deserves to be recognised for this and I’m sure he will have a bright future in the game. Tom will always be part of Watford in recognition of all that he has achieved over so many years.”
Cleverley, 35, has been at Watford since 2017 after making a loan move from Everton. He made that switch permanent, eventually making just under 150 appearances for the Herfordshire outfit.
He was named as interim head coach in March 2024 and was handed the permanent role after just one defeat in seven matches. He had penned a deal until the summer of 2027.
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Cleverely had Watford challenging for the playoff positions earlier this season but just one win in their last eight matches of the campaign saw their promotion hopes fade rapidly.
Watford eventually finished 14th in the Championship, with the club's controversial owners opting for a change. The Pozzo family have made 20 managerial changes alone in the 13 years they have been at Vicarage Road, while five men have been in the dugout since the Hornets were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2021/22 season.
Since their return the Championship, Watford have not finished any higher than 11th. The fixtures for the new season are set to be released 26 June 2025.
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