Tom Cleverley exclusive: Former Manchester United midfielder takes up Watford coaching role after retirement

Tom Cleverley was part of the last Manchester United team to win the Premier League title. The former Watford captain announced his retirement from playing in July and has taken up a coaching role in their academy.

In an exclusive interview with Air sports senior reporter Tim Thornton, the former England international, talks about his career, his ambition to become a Premier League manager and how Sir Alex Ferguson called to give advice.

Cleverley also believes Manchester United have never been so far away from winning the Premier League title and reveals how Jude Bellingham can be a role model for his young Watford players.

Tom, a few months after announcing your retirement, what has the transition been like from playing to coaching?

It was exactly what I needed at this time in my life. You’re basically banging your head against a brick wall, injury after injury. You lose your sense of purpose when you’ve known nothing but being a football player for fifteen years, but your body just won’t let you do that anymore.

So to walk straight into something that I’m passionate about, I feel lucky to have landed in such a good role that gives me a real sense of purpose in my life.

Was it difficult towards the end of your playing career? Have you had some dark moments?

I think the hardest thing to take was that I felt like my technique and my lungs were completely there, but my body wasn’t letting me perform sustainably and I just couldn’t play in the championship every week.

It was frustrating because I knew I was fit enough, but my body let me down too often and I had to give in.

So you’ve moved into coaching – was that always the ambition?

Yes. I started making my badges when I got back to Watford. I felt I saw an opportunity where I could help younger players.

As captain, or as vice-captain under Troy (Deeney), I felt it was my responsibility to help the younger players and it was always my motivation to become a coach.

I am fortunate that this role was available to me at a club that is passionate about developing players. I’m very lucky that it all fell into place.

You grew up as a professional through one of the best academies in football in the world at Manchester United. How helpful is it to these young boys that you grew up in that environment?

I would like them to see it as a good opportunity to benefit from my experiences.

I know that society has changed in the fifteen to twenty years since I was a student. Things won’t always be the same, but I like to instill the same values ​​and principles, and it’s crucial that I nip things in the bud that I see right away.

I will always adopt the values ​​I learned from Manchester United.

What is the long-term ambition? Could we see Premier League manager Tom Cleverley?

Yes, that is my long-term goal. You set the bar high and that will be no different as a coach.

At the moment I am learning every day and I have made a good start as coach of the U18s.

I feel like I have the experience of playing, but you have to put in the hours as a coach, and I feel like I have the work ethic to do that. How far I’ll go, who knows? But I enjoy it and I work hard.

We have Cesc Fabregas, one of the best midfielders of his generation, coaching a youth academy in Italy. Do you think it is important to learn your trade in an academy setting?

I don’t think there is a right or wrong. Some people go further up the football pyramid, some people go abroad, some people go into the academy system.

But what I do think is that I have great people to learn from and support me, so I feel like I’m in exactly the right place and I feel like I’m on a good learning path.

You played under one of the very best in Sir Alex Ferguson – what was that experience like?

He was fantastic. The way he managed a dressing room full of superstars, young players, players who have won everything and kept them motivated year after year and recycled teams.

He was a genius. I don’t think we will see a football club manager like that again. He led the football club from top to bottom and you can see the void he has left since he left.

Has he been in touch with any advice?

When I was confirmed as academy coach about three weeks ago, he got in touch and we spoke on the phone for 15 minutes. We talked about life and of course some words of advice.

I am proud that such a person contacted us and I am grateful for that.

Is it a coincidence that so many of those players from the Manchester United days went on to work in coaching and management and have been so successful?

You have to have a certain character to play for Manchester United. You have to work hard and have discipline, and of course be very talented at what you do.

I think hard work and discipline are the two most important things you need if you want a career as a coach, and that’s just part of playing for Manchester United.

You had a successful playing career – what were the highlights for you?

It’s been a long time since I reached the heights of playing for England and winning the league with Manchester United.

I am very proud to be captain of Watford. My best season was probably the season at Watford on loan. I really enjoyed my football then. It was also a great achievement to win the league in 2012/2013.

My greatest personal achievement would have been to play for England and continue as captain of Watford.

You were part of the last Manchester United team to win the title. Are they closer to another victory? Are they on the right track under Erik ten Hag?

I like to be optimistic, but I don’t think they’ve ever been further away. Due to the strength of the other teams, with the usual competitors and the introduction of (Aston) Villa, Brighton and Newcastle, it will be very difficult.

I hope they can do well in the Champions League, but in terms of domestic competition it is a huge task and you have to be realistic about that.

How difficult is it with expectations at Manchester United? Towards the end of your United career you had quite a difficult time under David Moyes and you found it difficult to cope. There are a lot of high-profile players at Manchester United and some of them have found it difficult – what have those experiences been like?

Yes, I had trouble with it. At such moments you look in the mirror. Am I doing everything right in preparation?

I think the support networks for players were a little less back then. You take care of yourself, which I tried, but I had a little trouble with it.

But you take your hat off to the players who can weather these slumps in form at the biggest clubs. For example, (Bukayo) Saka after the Euros, (Raheem) Sterling has had spells and returned to the top, John Stones had a season where people doubted him and he is one of the best defenders in the world.

You take your hat off to these players who have the resilience to be at the top for 10 to 15 years. There will always be dips in form, but you have to deal with it mentally.

Do you sympathize with Harry Maguire because he has probably received more criticism than any other player in the modern game?

Sure I will. It is the modern world we live in now with the internet and social media. Goals that aren’t his fault are his fault, and it all gets a bit weird.

He is a boy from Sheffield who went on to play for his country and captain Manchester United. He is wildly successful, even though he may not feel like it right now.

He should be proud of everything he has done and not let anyone influence him.

Do you have any fond memories of playing for England and what do you think of the progress of this current team under Gareth Southgate?

It’s fantastic to see the work the manager has done to get a country playing like a club. How well connected they are, the bond between the players, he has to take all the credit for that.

We have some of the most exciting young players in the world and our last two tournaments have given us enormous hope. It’s an exciting time to be an England fan.

I have played thirteen times for my country. I never scored, even though I had a chance against Ukraine at home. I didn’t show my best in an England shirt but it’s something I’ll always be proud of.

In this current team we have pace, technique and great defenders, and we have Jude Bellingham, one of the most exciting young players in the world.

We have big players and we have everything to give us a big chance. We will be involved in every conversation when it comes to predicting the winners of the European Championship.

You have played with some great midfielders in your career. How does Bellingham compare?

At the moment it is still in the potential phase. It sounds crazy when he plays for Real Madrid every week.

We always say: ‘let’s wait two to three years at this level before you put them in the conversation with (Paul) Scholes, (Steven) Gerrard and (Frank) Lampard’, but he is certainly on the right track to do that doing.

Is he someone you pick on the young players here at Watford and say ‘that’s how you behave, that’s the kind of drive and determination you need to get to the top’?

I have already done it. He wears his shorts where his shorts should be, his socks where his socks should be and he’s having a normal but iconic celebration. You don’t have to be wild, just do your job.

I prefer players who are very focused, mature and driven to do well.

Is that also how you see it as a coach: just do your job and see where it takes you?

My job is to develop these young players at Watford and do my best for the football club. If that means we can get a few into the first team then I’ll be very happy.

My two objectives now are to learn as a coach and develop these U18s.