Next permanent Watford manager odds: Who could replace Tom Cleverley at Vicarage Road?

Watford are at it again. Tom Cleverley becomes the 10th manager to be sacked by the club in the past five years. His spell as boss, however, was the third-longest since Gino Pozzo became the club’s owner in 2012.

After securing the post on a full-time basis last year, Watford were only four points off a playoff spot towards the end of March.

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However, a run of just one win from their final seven matches saw the Hornets eventually finish 14th in the second tier.

Cleverley had been with Watford since joining them from Everton in 2017, going on to make 146 appearances before ending his playing career in 2024.

Watford will now be seeking their 12th managerial appointment this decade. Courtesy of BetVictor, we have some odds of potential replacements for Cleverley.

Jose Rojo Martin – 7/4

Jose Rojo Martin is the favourite to become the next manager of Watford, according to the bookmakers.

The former Villarreal manager has spent his career mainly in Spain and Poland, taking charge of Real Valladolid, Elche and Korona Kielce among others.

The 57-year-old hasn’t been in a job since leaving Villarreal in November 2023, although there was speculation in January that he had held talks with the club to take over from Cleverley.

Jose Rojo Martin to be in charge of Watford next season – 7/4

Alberto Garrido – 11/4

Garrido is the current assistant manager at Watford and is now second favourite to be installed as the new head coach.

If he did secure the vacant role, it would be his first ever managerial job having spent time at Real Madrid, working as an assistant manager across a host of their youth teams.

Alberto Garrido to be in charge of Watford next season – 11/4

Will Still – 7/2

Still worked his way up from assistant at Stade Reims to taking over as head coach in October 2022.

During his time at the club, he helped them finish 11th in Ligue 1 during both the 2022/23 and 2023/24 campaigns, before joining RC Lens last summer.

He has masterminded wins over Lyon and Marseille in the French top flight and the club are currently in eighth place in the table, although European ambitions will have to wait another year.

Will Still to be in charge of Watford next season – 7/2

Marti Cifuentes – 9/2

Cifuentes was appointed QPR manager in October 2023, but after a season in which the club finished just seven points clear of the relegation zone, he was placed on gardening leave recently.

This was his first managerial job in England. He has been linked with the vacant role at West Bromwich Albion, but it doesn’t look like he will be at the Baggies next season.

Could Watford provide an escape route for the Spaniard ahead of the 2025/26 season?

Marti Cifuentes to be in charge of Watford next season – 9/2

Sean Dyche – 20/1

Dyche may be more known for his spells at Burnley and more recently Everton, but he took his first steps into management with Watford in 2011.

The Englishman may have spent only a season at Vicarage Road, yet the experience set him up for a solid career in the dugout.

He was sacked by the Toffees towards the end of 2024 after a poor start to the season, but a return to London might just revive his career.

Sean Dyche to be in charge of Watford next season – 20/1

Ralph Hasenhuttl – 20/1

Hasenhuttl is arguably one of the most experienced managers on the list of Cleverley replacements. 

His spells at Wolfsburg and RB Leipzig sandwiched a four-year stint with Southampton, who he managed to keep in the Premier League.

The Austrian failed to impress at Wolfsburg and was sacked just days ago following a 4-0 defeat to Borussia Dortmund which leaves the club 12th in the Bundesliga.

Ralph Hasenhuttl to be in charge of Watford next season – 20/1

All odds via BetVictor correct at the time of writing.