Cleverley confided in Rooney before taking Home Park post

TOM Cleverley has revealed the thorough research he did into Plymouth Argyle before his appointment as the club's new head coach included speaking to Wayne Rooney.

- CHRIS ERRINGTON

Twelve months on from Rooney taking charge at Home Park, it is now 35-year-old Cleverley who will be leading the Pilgrims into the 2025/26 League One campaign after their relegation from the Championship at the end of last season. Cleverley and Rooney are good friends after being team-mates for Manchester United and England and their families have been on holidays together.

Rooney's time as Argyle head coach lasted only 23 league games, with just four of them resulting in wins, but he had only good things to say to Cleverley about the club, and Plymouth in general.

Cleverley said: “I spoke not just with Wayne but other people who I know that have played for or coached at the club. He gave the club and the place a glowing reference.

“He's someone whose opinion I can trust. I played with him for many years. It’s important that I did some references but most of all is what I see now through my own eyes.

“That will really start on Monday when I get on the pitch with the players and I make my own judgments but I like to thoroughly research whatever I’m about to dive into, and the references were glowing.”

Cleverley guided Watford to 14th in the Championship last season, which was his first full campaign in charge of the club, but that was not enough for him to keep his job there.