Tom Cleverley made 42 appearances across his two-year spell at Everton.
Cleverley ended up leaving Goodison Park for Watford in 2017, and it was with the Hornets where he really settled in his career.
The midfielder spent six years at Watford, playing 181 times before hanging up the boots at the end of the 2022/23 season.
Cleverley went straight into his coaching career there as the under-18s manager before becoming first-team boss in 2024.
Is it time for Everton to start thinking about a change? 👋
One year left on his deal as things stand…
Everton manager David Moyes folding his arms.
Credit: Getty Images/Darren Staples / AFP
After showing clear signs of progression, Cleverley was controversially sacked by Watford in May 2025.
The former Everton midfielder’s stock remained high, and he was in contention to land the Southampton job.
That failed to materialise, but he was quickly snapped up by League One promotion hopefuls Plymouth Argyle.
Plymouth Argyle manager Tom Cleverley.
Photo by Andrew Vaughan/Getty Images
MORE EVERTON STORIES
How is former Everton star Tom Cleverley faring at Plymouth Argyle?
When Plymouth appointed Cleverley last summer, it was regarded as a real coup, as many expected him to get another Championship position.
Although, things quickly soured as the League One outfit really struggled for the first half of the season, leading a large portion of the fanbase to call for Cleverley to be sacked.
As the pressure mounted before Christmas, the owner put out a statement, backing his young manager: “We have decided to back him and to support him.
“When we hired Tom, we chose a young, ambitious, highly-qualified coach who was prepared to commit to the club.
“He has been working with a squad that was not put together in the way any of us would have wished, with significant injuries and too much turnover.
“That does not excuse results, but it is part of the context.”
Where do you stand on Braiden Graham… would you give him his debut? 🎯
TalkingPoints user on Braiden Graham.
Since then, results have started to turn, as Plymouth have moved away from the foot of the table towards the play-off positions.
Cleverley took charge of his 100th game as a manager on the weekend, and marked it with a stunning 5-2 win over league leaders Cardiff.
That was Plymouth’s third win on the bounce, and they’re now suddenly in the mix for the play-offs.
It’ll be interesting to see how Cleverley’s management career progresses.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Everton content each week direct to your mailbox