Everton have a number of former players trying their hand at management.
Mikel Arteta is perhaps the most successful, as he looks well-placed to win the Premier League title with Arsenal this season.
Wayne Rooney is another example, although his managerial career hasn’t been anywhere near as successful.
Rooney was sacked by Plymouth Argyle at the end of 2024 and the Toffees icon hasn’t returned to the dugout since.
Interestingly, there is another former Everton player now managing Plymouth, and he’s already been given three touchline bans this season.
Former Everton midfielder Tom Cleverley has had disciplinary issues this season
Everton signed Tom Cleverley from Manchester United in 2015, and he went on to make 42 appearances for the club.
Cleverley left for Watford a couple of years later, and after retiring, he became the Hornets’ manager in 2024 before being sacked last year.
The 36-year-old is now in charge of League One outfit Plymouth, who are currently residing in the bottom half of the table.
Toffees supporters will remember Cleverley as a quite level-headed footballer, but as a manager, he’s a completely different character.
He’s just served his third touchline ban of the season after being sent off in the clash against Bristol Rovers earlier this month.
Cleverley was red-carded for hitting the dugout in anger after being initially booked for leaving his technical area.
Tom Cleverley has been under a lot of pressure at Plymouth
When Cleverley was appointed Plymouth manager, it was seen as quite a coup for the League One outfit.
Cleverley’s stock was high despite being sacked by Watford, so the appointment was met with great fanfare.
Many expected the Pilgrims to go straight back up after being relegated from the second tier, but the season hasn’t panned out like that at all.
Plymouth are currently eight points adrift of the play-offs and supporters have called for Cleverley to be sacked on numerous occasions this term.
Results have improved, though, and the board have backed the former Everton star to succeed all the way through
Receive a digest of our best Everton content each week direct to your mailbox
