Everton decision in 2017 has given Watford FC a two-fold gift: View | OneFootball

Tom Cleverley joined Watford from Everton in 2017 and has progressed from player to manager

Watford have made a surprisingly promising start to the 2024/25 Championship season, and they may have an Everton decision seven years ago to thank for that.

Tom Cleverley joined the Hornets from Everton back in 2017, and after six years as a player, he became the club's manager in March 2024 on an interim basis before becoming the club's permanent boss the following month.

The 35-year-old has made a seamless tradition from playing to management, and despite being tipped to struggle, Cleverley's side have started the season in outstanding fashion.

The former midfielder joined Everton in the summer of 2015 after leaving Manchester United on a free transfer, but struggled to settle at Goodison Park and joined Watford on loan in January 2017, before moving to Vicarage Road on a permanent basis that summer, where he remains.

Everton's decision to sell Tom Cleverley has been a two-fold gift for Watford

Cleverley was a fantastic servant for Watford as a player, helping them secure their status as a solid mid-table Premier League club during his first couple of seasons, and also helping them reach the FA Cup final in 2019.

Disaster struck in 2020 when the Hornets were relegated from the Premier League, but Cleverley remained loyal to the club, despite being a Premier League-standard player, and helped them win promotion at the first attempt after finishing second in the Championship.

Watford endured another difficult season in the top-flight, and were relegated in 2022, but Cleverley was appointed club captain by new boss Rob Edwards before he suffered a nasty achilles injury which effectively ended his career.

He announced his retirement from playing in the summer of 2023, having made 181 appearances for Watford, over 100 more than he had done for any of his other clubs, and he began his coaching career with the club's academy.

Had Everton not sold Cleverley to Watford in 2017, he almost certainly wouldn't be managing the Hornets currently, and they really do have the Toffees and Ronald Koeman to thank after he fell out of favour at Goodison Park.

It's well-documented that Watford go through managers at a staggering pace, and eyebrows may well have been raised when Cleverley was appointed on a permanent basis, but so far he's proving to be a very shrewd appointment.

Watford have won all three Championship games this season, and while it seems unlikely that they'll be able to keep up this good run of form for an entire season, there are reasons to believe that the former Everton man could be an excellent appointment long-term.

Both as a player and as a manager, Cleverley has shown he's an excellent addition for the football club, and Watford have Everton's decision seven years ago to thank for that.

Tom Cleverley has shown all the hallmarks of being an excellent manager

As a young manager, Watford is probably the worst place you can start your career on paper, but it's been so far so good for Cleverley.

It was a brave decision from the club's board to appoint him, but moving away from the tried and tested options which haven't worked well for the club recently is a commendable approach.

Watford have started the season in excellent fashion, but the club's hierarchy need to understand that there will be peaks and troughs, and that they need to keep faith in Cleverley even if they endure a poor run of form.

The Hornets probably shouldn't be anywhere near promotion or even the play-offs this season, but their bright start to the season could have raised expectations to unrealistic levels.

On his early showings, Cleverley looks like he could be the manager to help rebuild the club and take them back to the Premier League, but it's not going to be a quick fix.

The 35-year-old is still incredibly young and inexperienced, so patience will be needed at times, but Cleverley looks like he has all the hallmarks of being an excellent manager in the future.