Cleverley appointed as Plymouth Argyle boss

Plymouth Argyle person appointed erstwhile Watford brag Tom Cleverley arsenic their caput coach.

The 35-year-old has signed a three-year declaration and succeeds Miron Muslic, who left the nine past month to instrumentality implicit astatine German broadside Schalke.

Cleverley joins an Argyle broadside returning to League One this play pursuing relegation aft 2 years successful the Championship.

The erstwhile Manchester United and Everton midfielder spent the bulk of his playing vocation astatine Watford earlier succeeding Valerien Ismael arsenic caput manager successful March 2024.

Cleverley was sacked by the Hornets successful May, having missed retired connected the play-offs aft a mediocre 2nd fractional of the play arsenic Watford faded severely to decorativeness 14th.

His 14 months astatine the helm was the longest tenure of immoderate brag astatine Vicarage Road since Javi Gracia's reign from January 2018 to September 2019.

In total, Cleverley was successful complaint for 60 games, winning 20, drafting 14 and losing 26.

"Ever since Miron's departure and knowing Tom was available, we identified him consecutive distant arsenic the cleanable idiosyncratic to beryllium our adjacent caput manager and targeted him immediately," president Simon Hallett told the nine website., external

"When we spoke to him helium was wholly aligned with the imaginativeness and ambitions of the nine and it was wide passim that Tom was the close acceptable for us.

"He is young, passionate and did a large occupation astatine Watford. We are thrilled to bring him to Argyle and look guardant to seeing the interaction helium has connected the talented squad astatine his disposal."

Talks are ongoing regarding who Cleverley volition name to his backroom staff, with a fig of coaches appointed by Muslic inactive listed connected the Argyle website arsenic being connected the club's staff.

Cleverley could opt to nexus up again with Damon Lathrope, his adjunct astatine Watford, who has besides near the nine and spent much than 5 years successful 2 spells arsenic a subordinate astatine Plymouth's Devon neighbours Torquay United.

Argyle accidental they had a ample fig of applicants for the role, with the Pilgrims present connected to their 5th imperishable manager successful little than 2 years.

Cleverley replaces Muslic, who was astatine the nine for 4 months aft succeeding Wayne Rooney successful January.

The erstwhile England skipper was lone appointed successful May past twelvemonth pursuing the short-lived tenure of Ian Foster, who had replaced Steven Schumacher successful January 2024 erstwhile helium near Home Park to instrumentality implicit astatine Stoke City.

"We were inundated with involvement from prospective candidates, which shows however breathtaking this task is," main enforcement Andrew Parkinson said.

"But passim the process, it was wide Tom was the cleanable idiosyncratic to instrumentality the nine forward.

"He's been highly sought after, truthful we are truly pleased we person been capable to bring him to Argyle and look guardant to seeing him physique a squad and benignant of play that volition spot america challenging astatine the apical extremity of League One this season."

Brent Pilnick, BBC Sport Online

Tom Cleverley joins a nine intent connected returning to the Championship astatine the archetypal effort aft their relegation past season.

Having gambled connected caput coaches with small affirmative first-team acquisition successful Ian Foster and Wayne Rooney, Argyle person gone for a antheral who was well-received during his clip astatine Watford.

Despite being Argyle's 4th caput manager since January 2024, helium is arguably joining a much unchangeable situation for a manager than astatine Watford - Steven Schumacher and Miron Muslic some near for different clubs portion Foster and Rooney's mediocre records required their removal.

Cleverley's large interest volition beryllium recruitment and retention - Adam Randell and Ryan Hardie some person 12 months near connected their deals, portion the nine has players specified arsenic Michael Baidoo and Rami Al Hajj who struggled to accommodate to the English crippled past season.

He volition person a decent fund for the level, with proprietor Simon Hallett saying it is bigger than the nine had erstwhile they won League One successful 2023.

But that means the unit volition beryllium connected to nutrient a promotion propulsion - particularly with determination being nary mammoth spenders similar Birmingham City and Wrexham successful the part this season.