Category Archives: Tom Cleverley

6th May 2025- Tom Cleverley is sacked as Watford Head Coach

Club Statement: Tom Cleverley – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Watford have sacked head coach Tom Cleverley after the team failed to reach the Championship play-offs.

Sky: Though Cleverley’s dismissal represents Watford’s 10th sacking in the last five years, he leaves as the third-longest-serving manager since Gino Pozzo took over as owner in 2012.

Guardian: The 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.

Watford Observer: Tom Cleverley sacked as Watford head coach

Blissett brands Cleverley sacking ‘a total and utter farce’

RECAP: reaction as Watford sack Tom Cleverley

Sorrow, sympathy and support – but sadly nothing Watford do shocks us anymore

‘Could this be the sacking that tips people over the edge?’

From the Rookery End: DCW was joined by Mike and Jas to discuss Gino Pozzo’s decision to sack one of the most popular Head Coaches in recent Watford history. The trio try to make sense of the decision, and in doing so question what future Watford can hope to have under the leadership of Pozzo, Duxbury and Nani.

The following day the club released a statement from Gino Pozzo

Owner Statement: Gino Pozzo – Watford FCDownload

BBC: Gino Pozzo: The man behind Watford’s manager churn

Watford Observer: Pozzo: ‘We believe we made correct decision for the good of the football club’

New name comes from nowhere to be bookies’ favourite for Watford job

‘94 per cent’ of Watford fans disagree with Cleverley sacking

24th April 2024- Tom Cleverley confirmed as Head Coach

He had been acting as Interim Head Coach since Valerin Ismael was sacked on 9th March.


Watford Observer: Cleverley is appointed Watford’s new head coach

OPINION: Appointment of Tom is a sign of the owner acting Cleverley

BBC: Cleverley named permanent Watford boss

The morning before Tom’s appointment this article appeared on the BBC website.

I lacked ambition as a player but not as a coach – Cleverley

16th March 2024- Championship, Birmingham City 0 Watford 1

WFC.Net Goal Commentary: 1

BBC: Struggling Birmingham City were left ruing a defensive lapse that ruined an otherwise much-improved performance as Emmanuel Dennis’ first-half goal gave Tom Cleverley a win in his first game as Watford interim head coach.

Sky: Aiwu could not control Cody Drameh’s throw-in across his own penalty area and Dennis got the better of the defender before finishing ruthlessly past John Ruddy.

BHappy: There’s a new broom in town… and yes, yes, we’re quite used to that and no, it’s not all about the head coach, deeper problems, yada yada.  Nonetheless.  There’s a newness to it and the potential for something different.  Daughter 2 notes that the large away end is full.  It’s not just the convenient distance that has brought folk out, and the new (interim) head coach’s name is being sung before the man himself even appears.

Fran’s Watford Blog: So, the Cleverley era started with a win, but it had been a very poor game of football between two poor teams.  The Hornets had taken the three points based on an opportunist goal and a couple of excellent saves from Bachmann.  Pollock impressed as did Porteous and Tom Dele-Bashiru, but the forwards had a disappointing afternoon.  Still, three points are always welcome, and we now have a fortnight to prepare for the challenges of the Easter weekend.  Let’s hope that this result will instil some confidence and that the remaining games yield some entertainment.  This has been a trying season.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68519397

9th March 2024- Championship, Watford 1 Coventry City 2 after which Valerien Ismael was dismissed and replaced by Tom Cleverley who was named as Interim Head Coach

https://www.skysports.com/football/watford-vs-coventry-city/teams/485145

WFC.Net Goal Commentary: 1

Sky: Haji Wright scored twice as Coventry came from behind to beat Watford 2-1 at Vicarage Road.

BBC: Ryan Porteous put the home side in front after a bright start from the out-of-form hosts. USA forward Wright scored a penalty just before half-time to level after Josh Eccles was fouled, before adding another 18 minutes from time.

Watford Observer: RECAP: Watford 1 Coventry City 2

The drop and the chop – could one or both happen to Ismael?

Hornets’ home misery continues with Coventry defeat

Around five and a half hours after the game finished the club confirmed that Valerin Ismael had been dismissed as Head Coach and would be replaced by Tom Cleverley on an interim basis.

BBC: Watford have sacked boss Valerien Ismael following a run of only one win in 10 league games, with Tom Cleverley named as interim head coach.

Sky: Ismael was Watford’s 20th different manager since the Pozzo family took control of the club in 2020.

Watford Observer: Ismael sacked – Cleverley takes interim charge

Ismael sacked: he got more time than many but couldn’t survive this run

Sacked in March but Ismael’s January decisions were his downfall

BHappy: And so midway through the writing of this report the news breaks that has been coming, however reluctantly.  Ten months is probably not far from average for a managerial tenure these days and any number of statistics will support the fact that most clubs in this position would have taken the same steps by now, not that this will prevent any tired hacks from wheeling out tired gags.

Fran’s Watford Blog: I went to a gig in the evening and, while travelling home, picked up the news that Valerien had gone.  Given the terrible run of results that we have had lately, it was hardly a surprise.  I just hope that Tom Cleverley can bring some of the magic that he has had with the youngsters to the first team.  I certainly wish him well.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68454825