Watford sack head coach Tom Cleverley: 10th coach in 5 years...

Watford Football Club has announced the sacking of head coach Tom Cleverley. The decision comes after the team failed to secure a place in the Championship play-offs, ultimately finishing the season in 14th place. A key factor in their missed opportunity was a poor run of form at the end of the campaign, where the Hornets managed to take just one point from their final five matches, concluding with a 1-1 draw in the season's final game.

Cleverley, a 35-year-old former Manchester United, Everton, and Watford midfielder who was capped by England, was initially appointed as interim boss in March 2024 following the departure of Valerien Ismael. He was then confirmed in the permanent role the following month. In total, Cleverley was in charge for 60 games, recording 20 wins and 26 losses.

This managerial change continues Watford's notable history of instability in the dugout. Cleverley is the club's 10th permanent head coach to be sacked since Nigel Pearson was dismissed in the summer of 2020, when the club faced relegation from the Premier League. Notably, no Watford manager or head coach has managed to remain in the job for an entire calendar year since Malky Mackay in 2010, although Cleverley was the first to oversee a full season since Javi Gracia in 2018-19.

'Time has come for a change'

Sporting Director Gian Luca Nani commented on the decision, stating, "The time has come for a change and to build on what we believe is a young and talented squad." He also offered praise for Cleverley, saying it was a "privilege to work closely with Tom" and wishing him a "bright future in the game."

Cleverley's tenure saw a strong start at home, remaining unbeaten in his first 15 league games. However, results took a downturn after a defeat in late December, leading to a poor run where they earned just five points from the next nine matches. Earlier reports linking former Villarreal coach Pacheta to the role were dismissed by the club as "pure speculation," and owner Gino Pozzo had publicly committed to supporting Cleverley.

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Cleverley himself had spoken last week about the reasons for missing the play-offs, citing injuries, particularly among forwards, as undermining their hopes. He noted that while goals conceded hadn't changed significantly pre and post-January, goals scored had dropped "significantly." He acknowledged the young age of the squad played a part in them running "out of steam" but also saw the experiences gained as a positive for development.

Despite these explanations and previous assurances, the club confirmed the sacking with a statement on their website indicating "no further club comment until a new appointment has been made," signalling a swift search for the 11th permanent head coach in just under five years.