With Tom Cleverley announced the club's Interim Head Coach, we have taken a look at five key stages of the former Hornets captain's career, ranging from lifting titles, to stoppage-time winners, and even an Olympic Games.
Player Of The Season - First Spell With Watford
Cleverley's first involvement with Watford came all the way back in 2009. Touted as a player full of potential after impressing in Manchester United's academy, the midfielder joined the Hornets on loan.
He made an immediate impact, scoring on his debut to ensure the Golden Boys picked up a first win of the 2009/10 season with a 4-2 victory away to Nottingham Forest.
Although initially the deal was only until January, Cleverley's performances saw the loan extended until the end of the season. He ended up with 11 goals in 35 appearances, and was named Player of the Season as Watford finished 16th.
Premier League Champion - Manchester United
After impressing on loan spells with the Hornets and then Wigan Athletic in the Premier League the following season, Cleverley returned to Manchester United in the 2011/12 campaign ready to fight for the position of Paul Scholes' successor.
Favoured by Sir Alex Ferguson at the start of the campaign, he even signed a new contract at the club until 2015. However, several injuries meant he was reduced to a squad role at the end of the season.
This continued into 2012/13, when he scored his first goals in a Manchester United shirt, making 22 league appearances as he earned a Premier League winner's medal. United finished top with 89 points, 11 clear of second-placed Manchester City.
International Stage - England & Team GB
Cleverley made his debut for England in August 2012, featuring in a friendly against Italy. He would go on to make his first competitive outing the next month, playing the full 90 minutes in a World Cup qualifying win over Moldova.
He made 13 appearances for the national side in total, with his last cap coming against Germany in November 2013. During one of these matches, against San Marino, he recorded 165 touches of the ball, the most-ever by an England player in a single game.
The midfielder was also selected in the 18-man squad to represent Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics. He played in all four matches as the side lost on penalties to South Korea in the quarter-finals.
The Return - Second Spell With Watford
On the domestic front, Cleverley failed to nail down a regular spot at United. He spent time with both Aston Villa and Everton before eventually returning to Watford in early 2017, initially on loan before making the move permanent before the end of the season.
The midfielder would go on to make 146 appearances in his second spell with the club, which included a cup final, a promotion, and some memorable goals.
One of the most stand-out strikes has to be the last-minute winner under the lights at Vicarage Road against Arsenal in 2017. With the game in added time, Etienne Capoue's goalwards effort was blocked into the path of Cleverley, who rifled the ball into the net to send The Vic wild, earning a famous victory,
Move Into Coaching - Watford Under-18s
The 2022/23 season would prove to be the final campaign of Cleverley's playing career, with the midfielder forced to retire due to injury.
However, soon after this it was announced that he would be making the move into coaching, joining the club's Academy as the Under-18 Lead Coach.
He impressed in his eight months with the side, taking them up to second in the league and leading both the Under-17s and Under-18s to at least the semi-finals of their respective cup competitions.
