54 games together but now bosses face-off

WATFORD have confirmed their new permanent boss ahead of their visit to Middlesbrough next weekend – and it’s a man Michael Carrick knows well.

Tom Cleverley has been handed the reins on a permanent basis after his spell in interim charge after the sacking of Valerian Ismael last month. Carrick’s former Manchester United team-mate led the Hornets in seven Championship fixtures and though five of those games were against sides in the top seven, they’ve lost only one. Despite only one being a win, Cleverley has done enough to convince the Watford hierarchy he is the man for the job long term.

When they visit Boro for the final game of the season there will be little more than pride at stake as the former team-mates collide having played 54 games together at Manchester United.

Cleverley is Watford’s 20th permanent manager since the Pozzo family acquired the club back in 2012. On his appointment, he said: “It is a very proud moment for me. I think everyone knows what the club means to me and how much it holds a place in my heart, and now I am in real control of the fortune and the future of the football club. I feel very fortunate to be in that position, and I feel a deep sense of responsibility that I am going to embrace.”

Cleverley has previously spoken about his admiration for Boro boss Carrick. Speaking on the official Manchester United podcast, Cleverley said: “It’s a bit of a weird dynamic isn’t it, football clubs. Your teammate is your first opponent for your position. So there are not many industries where that happens.

“I just remember the training with Scholsey and being jealous of how good he was! I’m competing with this guy who doesn’t misplace or miss-hit one ball.

“I think when you talk about careers like Carra’s, because his lasted 10 years, my best year was a good year but it only lasted one year. To keep that success, drive, desire, over 10, 15 years, people like this, you can’t speak highly enough of them. To deal with dips in form and disappointments and just to keep coming back and they’re not only the best ability-wise, they’re the best mentality-wise.”

Cleverley had two playing spells at Watford before retiring from playing and moving into coaching, starting as the Watford under-18s boss at the beginning of the season before his promotion to first-team head coach.