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Tom Cleverley is set to be named as the Plymouth Argyle manager, talk SPORT understands. Former Watford boss Cleverley beat off competition from candidates including fellow ex-England midfielder Jack Wilshere. The 35-year-old will replace Miron Muslic, who has left the club to join Schalke 04 in Germany. Muslic replaced Wayne Rooney at the beginning of the year but was unable to guide them to Championship safety as they finished 23rd. Cleverley will therefore join a side gearing up for League One football in the 2025/26 campaign. The former Manchester United star was sacked by Watford just days after the end of the season. They finished 14th in the Championship and won only once in their last nine league fixtures to miss out on the play-off spots. Plymouth will become just the second club in his managerial career, which started in the Watford academy after retirement. Cleverley will also be the Pilgrims' fourth appointment since Steven Schumacher, who won the League One title in 2023, left the club. Ian Foster replaced him in January 2024 but was sacked three months later following a run of four wins from his 17 matches in charge. England and United legend Rooney, who was teammates with Cleverley, succeeded him at Home Park but also faced a tough tenure. He mutually left on New Year's Eve with Plymouth sitting bottom of the Championship table. Muslic enjoyed an impressive start at the club as they beat Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Cup. However, although they won four of their last seven league matches, Plymouth were relegated from the second tier. Following their Championship campaign, Muslic 'expressed his desire' to speak with Schalke 04. Plymouth owner Simon Hallett then wrote an open letter to fans to reveal their disappointment with timing and manner of his exit. Hallett also revealed that Muslic told him he was 100 per cent committed to the club amid speculation of outside interest. © 2025 talk SPORT Limited
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