Wayne Rooney's former Man Utd & England team-mate to take Plymouth job as Pilgrims line up new manager following relegation

According to The Guardian, Plymouth appear to have found their next head coach with Cleverley on the verge of stepping into the managerial hot seat. The former midfielder, who parted ways with Watford just last month, is set to replace Miron Muslic, who guided Plymouth to a notable FA Cup win over Liverpool before departing for Schalke.

Cleverley took the reins at Vicarage Road last season and led the Hornets to a mid-table 14th-place finish in the Championship during his debut campaign. Despite that relatively stable showing, he was relieved of his duties as the club opted for a new direction heading into the 2025–26 season.

The Pilgrims had reportedly shortlisted four potential candidates for the job. Among the names considered was Jack Wilshere, another former England international who recently stepped in as interim head coach at Norwich City. The ex-Arsenal playmaker was interviewed as part of the selection process, but is no longer believed to be in contention, paving the way for Cleverley’s expected appointment.

A loss at home to Leeds United on the last day of the campaign sealed their fall from the second tier, bringing an end to their two-year stint in the Championship. The recruitment process was spearheaded by Plymouth’s new head of football operations, David Fox, himself a former player at the club, alongside Stuart Webber, the ex-Norwich sporting director.

The tone for Plymouth’s troubled season was set under Rooney as he found success hard to come by. In his 25 matches in charge, he managed just five wins before being dismissed shortly after Christmas. Rooney left the side languishing in the relegation zone, and although the team showed brief signs of improvement under Muslic’s guidance, it ultimately wasn't sufficient to avoid the drop.

Should his appointment be confirmed, Cleverley will be tasked with rebuilding both morale and momentum at Home Park. With League One football on the horizon, the focus will shift to squad reshaping, tactical adjustments, and instilling a winning mentality. His experience as a player at the top level, coupled with his short spell at Watford, could provide the blueprint for Plymouth’s revival.