Next Watford manager contenders after Tom Cleverley sacking

As Watford wield the axe on yet another manager, we take a look at the early contenders to become the next Hornets boss following Tom Cleverley's exit.

Potential next Watford managers

Miron Muslic

An unknown quantity in English football when appointed Plymouth Argyle manager in January, Miron Muslic nearly achieved the unthinkable as the Pilgrims' late charge for Championship survival fell agonisingly short.

Despite Plymouth's demotion, Muslic's emerged from the ordeal with plenty of credit in the bank.

Not only did the Bosnian-born Austrian oversee an improvement in form which saw the Devon club rank 12th in the Championship for points accrued since his appointment, but Muslic orchestrated one of the club's greatest triumphs as they abruptly ended Liverpool's quadruple hopes with a 1-0 success in the FA Cup fourth round.

Excruciating defeats to Derby County and Middlesbrough ultimately cost Plymouth dear, but the ferocious resilience Muslic had forged shone through in the closing stages of the season as they produced fantastic victories over Sheffield United, Coventry City and Preston North End.

Amid Plymouth's relegation, Muslic has refused to confirm whether he will stay on at the club next season.

The 42-year-old previously enjoyed success with Cercle Brugge as he guided the Belgian Pro League outfit to their highest league finish in 16 years.

Marti Cifuentes

Marti Cifuentes finds himself in a fascinating predicament after being placed on gardening leave by his current employers QPR.

The Spaniard's apparent flirting with West Brom has backfired with Cifuentes reportedly no longer on the shortlist to succeed Tony Mowbray at The Hawthorns.

Despite burning his bridges at Loftus Road, Cifuentes should still be commended for the work he's undertaken in west London.

QPR were mired in relegation trouble at the time of his arrival and Cifuentes galvanised an underperforming group to secure Championship safety in their penultimate match.

The form of the R's in 2024/25 was erratic and yet Cifuentes maximised the tools at his disposal to lead the club to 15th at the time his leave was sanctioned.

Cifuentes has experience of working within budget restraints, an element Cleverley was exposed to, and his tactical versatility may be a good fit at Vicarage Road.

John Mousinho

Romping to the League One title in his first full season as a head coach, John Mousinho's managerial credentials were scrutinised as Portsmouth endured a difficult start on their Championship return.

The Fratton Park hierarchy kept their faith and the decision to stick with Mousinho was vindicated; Portsmouth won nine of their remaining 21 matches after a 3-0 defeat to Blackburn in mid-January to climb from 23rd to 16th.

It's an impressive feat when you consider Portsmouth possess one of the smaller budgets in the league and the injury woes they were subjected to throughout the season.

Mousinho's ability to develop players has been the cornerstone of his Pompey success and the 39-year-old has tactically evolved after being exposed to the harsh rigours the second tier can serve.

Would Mousinho be willing to forfeit a stable environment with Portsmouth in favour of the chaos at Watford? Plenty have made that jump before.

Steve Cooper

A high-profile candidate following his two spells in the Premier League, Steve Cooper has the pedigree Gino Pozzo will seemingly crave in his search for the individual who will realise his top-six ambitions.

Cooper's dire stint at Leicester City has tainted his managerial reputation, but the former Nottingham Forest chief remains highly sought and has been linked to an abundance of vacancies in the second tier.

Is there a project in the Championship enticing enough to capture his attention?

Watford, on paper, should be a perfect opportunity for Cooper to reestablish himself on the ladder and yet the club's hire and fire reputation precedes itself, while a lack of transfer investment indicates the Hornets job is a far tougher assignment than what it appears.

Gary O'Neil

Another out-of-work manager, Gary O'Neil built up substantial credit during his stints at both Bournemouth and Wolves.

Like Cooper, O'Neil has been linked with a whole host of Championship clubs and yet nothing concrete has materialised since his departure from Wolves.

Steering Bournemouth to Premier League safety in his first season as a head coach, O'Neil dismissed Julen Lopetegui's notion that Wolves were unequipped to survive by guiding Wolves comfortably clear of the bottom three in 2023/24.

Hopes of the former Middlesbrough and West Ham midfielder building on the foundations he'd set were extinguished in December as a return of just two wins saw O'Neil lose his job.

Despite his unceremonious exit, an ambitious Championship outfit could be the perfect fit for O'Neil's next venture.

• Watford sack head coach Tom Cleverley