A number of former Manchester United players have stepped into managerial roles after retiring – with varying levels of success within the group.
Former Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley has been given a vote of confidence by Plymouth Argyle. Cleverley took charge of League One side Plymouth after being sacked as Watford manager in May, but his results so far have been poor.
The Devon club came close to making a run for their money last season under coach Miron Muslim, finishing safely with just three points. Muric has since moved to Schalke in Germany’s second division, leaving Cleverley in danger of being relegated for the second year in a row.
The Pilgrims lost their first four games of the season before reviving under a new manager, but have picked up just one point from their last four and sit 22nd out of 24 teams in the third tier. However, CEO Paul Byrne insists that while Cleverley still has support from senior management, things can always change quickly in football, as other managers have learned in the past.
“If you’re a head coach, let me be more clear,” Byrne said after Tuesday’s defeat to Mansfield, insisting that recovery from “a very volatile period” will take time. “We have recruited Tom as a young, bright and ambitious head coach who can play a key role in the next phase of Argyle’s journey.
“We are now a quarter of the way through Tom’s first season and although the results have been disappointing, nothing has changed in terms of Tom being the right person for this club. We need to bring that stability to the club as a whole and this comes from the head coach.”
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Byrne continued: “We are confident that things will turn around. We have had a number of circumstances hit us in recent weeks, which have resulted in the absence of key players through the opening 14 league games. This was highlighted last night, with Tom unable to fill the substitute bench and nine players not available for selection, the majority of whom are considered first-team starters.”
“These are facts, not excuses, and it’s clearly not an ideal situation for a head coach to deliver consistent winning performances. However, we believe Tom still has all the tools to make this happen.”
“Through all of this, the support of the Green Army has never wavered, with a packed home crowd and incredible away support. This support will never be taken for granted by anyone at the football club, but especially Tom and his staff and players. We are one Argyle and history has shown us that when we come together we can achieve special things. Unite. COYG.”
Plymouth named just six substitutes for their midweek trip to Mansfield and goals from Will Evans and Jordan Bowery gave them three points. Ayman Benaroos is the latest player to join the absentee list after sustaining a freak injury in training, while teammate Matthew Sorinola is expected to return for Saturday’s FA Cup trip to Wycombe after serving a suspension for a yellow card.
“He probably did that tens of thousands of times where he opened his knee a little bit to receive the ball and something clicked in there and it caused a little bit of damage to the ligament,” Cleverley said of Benaroos. “It’s a shame for him because given his performance in the last few games and the way he’s been training, he could have done a lot in a few games.”
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