Watford have sacked Tom Cleverley as their head coach after the club finished 14th in the Championship in his first full season.

Cleverley took over on an interim basis in March 2024 and was given the job permanently last summer. After five wins since the turn of the year, and one point from the final five games, the 35-year-old has lost his job.

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.

“But 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.”

Since the sacking of Nigel Pearson just under five years ago Watford have had nine full-time managers. The club started this season positively and were sixth after beating Portsmouth on Boxing Day with a game in hand on most of the division.

Cleverley, who played as a midfielder for England and for clubs including Manchester United and Everton, was given his first senior coaching role by Watford.