Watford: Tom Cleverley named interim boss after Valerien Ismael sacked

Valerien Ismael is replaced by Tom Cleverley at the 13th-placed Hornets, who are seven points clear of the relegation zone

Watford have sacked boss Valerien Ismael following a run of only one win in 10 league games, with Tom Cleverley named as interim head coach.

Former Manchester United and England midfielder Cleverley, 34, had been coaching their under-18 side after his retirement from playing last year.

The Hornets, who are 13th in the Championship, say Cleverley's staff will be "confirmed in due course".

Ex-Barnsley and West Brom boss Ismael joined Watford in May 2023.

The 47-year-old's departure means the club are now looking for their 11th head coach since Javi Gracia departed in September 2019 and eighth since the end of the 2020-21 season.

Since Sean Dyche left Vicarage Road in 2012, Gianfranco Zola, Giuseppe Sannino, Oscar Garcia, Billy McKinlay, Slavisa Jokanovic, Quique Sanchez Flores, Walter Mazzarri, Marco Silva, Javi Gracia, Nigel Pearson, Vladimir Ivic, Xisco Munoz, Claudio Ranieri, Roy Hodgson, Rob Edwards, Slaven Bilic and Chris Wilder have also had spells in charge.

Ismael, who arrived at Vicarage Road following a spell in Turkey with Besiktas, previously led Barnsley to the Championship play-offs in 2021.

But he lasted only eight months at West Brom before leaving in February 2022.

Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Coventry was their third in four matches and sixth in their past eight games, with their only win in the previous 10 coming against bottom club Rotherham.

The Vicarage Road side failed to win their last nine home league matches, with six defeats and three draws following their last home victory in November.

They now face a tough finish to the season, with eight of their nine remaining games coming against teams in the top half of the table.

"The Hornets thank Valerien and his staff for their dedication and commitment," said a club statement. "However, the club's board considers it an appropriate time to make a change in order to improve results."

Cleverley, capped 13 times by England, ended his playing career with Watford, having joined from Everton in 2017.

He won the Premier League title with Manchester United in 2013 and was part of the Hornets team who reached the FA Cup final in 2019.

His first match in charge of Watford will come away at 21st-placed Birmingham next Saturday.