Watford Football Club has sacked head coach Tom Cleverley. This decision follows a string of underwhelming results in the Championship. The decision followed a disappointing season in which the team set just five victories over the full calendar year of 2025. Cleverley experienced a storied career with the club, eventually taking on the role of player and captain. He has become the tenth manager to be relieved of their duties under the Pozzo umbrella, which has controlled the club for 13 years.
The club’s sporting director Gian Luca Nani confirmed as much. He announced it via the now-standard statement on the official club website. Nani called for a clear plan going forward away from the results and back towards nurturing the considerable talent in the squad. He stated, “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.”
Nathan Cleverley joined Watford from Everton in 2017. He played 146 matches for the club and then transitioned into a coaching role. He was made captain in 2023, a role he retained until his recent sacking. His three years leading the program were difficult. Watford ended up 11 points off the play-offs during his reign. Three months in they had not yet won a single match, with only one victory in their last seven games.
In fact, the Pozzo regime has brought through a remarkable 14 managers since assuming control just over 10 years ago. It was in this climate that we hired 21 permanent managers. Fifteen of them were unable to run even one complete campaign. This strange pattern that has developed begs the question of managerial instability and player performance at the club.
Cleverley’s connection with Watford endures more than eight years later, when his contributions in and out of the pitch continue to carry significant weight. His departure marks a new chapter for the club as it seeks to regroup and find a new direction following a challenging season.
Leave a Reply