Plymouth Argyle manager Tom Cleverley is targeting promotion from League One in his second campaign in charge after narrowly missing out on the play-offs last season.
The Pilgrims sat bottom of the third tier in late November before mounting a dramatic recovery that fell just short in the final minutes of the campaign. The club maintained patience in Cleverley, who now faces competition from division rivals including Leicester City and Sheffield Wednesday.
Plymouth have sold star striker Lorent Tolaj to Bristol City for £4 million. Cleverley will only receive a portion of those funds to spend on a replacement.
Despite the player sale, the 36-year-old former Manchester United, England and Watford midfielder remains confident in his squad. Only Lincoln City achieved a better record in the third tier since the start of 2026.
Tactical approach and player development
"I’ve learned a lot," Cleverley told Daily Mail Sport. "The biggest thing is my knowledge of League One. I researched every player we were playing against but until you’ve experienced the heat of the battle, it’s tough to know how to be at your most effective. You never stop learning. You want to be in the training ground 14 hours a day but you quickly learn that's got a short shelf life."
"I've got to grips with what the league takes. I know the strengths and weaknesses of my players. If we maximise every department of the football club, promotion is achievable," Cleverley said.
Cleverley emphasizes tactical detail, ranging from which side to press an opponent to pressing timing and shoulder checking, aiming to give players an edge without overloading them.
"I wouldn’t pigeonhole myself into one style of tactical identity," Cleverley said. "I’m someone who believes in getting the best out of the players you’ve got, identifying their strengths and weaknesses, and creating a gameplan."
He admires Aston Villa manager Unai Emery for his adaptability, detail and record of improving players. Cleverley considers working with available squad members vital in the Football League, where larger clubs regularly poach players.
Manchester connections and transfer loans
Cleverley has drawn on assistance from former Manchester United teammate Michael Carrick, with whom he won the Premier League title in 2013 during Sir Alex Ferguson's final season in charge. Plymouth trained at United's Carrington base last season prior to an away match against Stockport County.
"We’ve used Carrington, so I see Jonny Evans and Michael there," Cleverley said. "We’re good friends away from football, so we've had real good conversations about potential loans. Every young English coach will be rooting for him this year."
Cleverley listens to Manchester bands including Oasis, Blossoms and Courteeners. That music will accompany squad journeys during more than 12,000 miles of coach trips for away matches from Devon in the season ahead.
Away travel and squad character
Plymouth recorded strong results on the road last campaign, earning 39 points away from home with 12 victories. That total was one point fewer than when the club won the league title in the 2022-23 season.
The team typically travels the morning before a game, trains at nearby club facilities, and returns home as late as 4am on match night. Players receive a day and a half off to recuperate.
"The travelling isn't mentioned as much internally as it is externally!" Cleverley said. "We try to recruit the right profile of player and character that doesn’t moan about small things."
"We know what we’re signing up for here. We do have the challenge of miles on the clock. It’s not a negative or an excuse, it’s a challenge, and we come across challenges big or small every day," he added.
Resilience from playing career struggles
Described as the first person to arrive and the last to leave every day, Cleverley felt refreshed following summer weeks at home in Manchester and on holiday in North Wales. He also spent time at St George's Park working on his English Pro Licence.
Cleverley has accumulated more than 400 matches as a player and manager. Roy Hodgson once compared him to Cesc Fabregas, and Cleverley earned 13 caps for England alongside playing for Team GB at the London 2012 Olympics. He also sang "Stand By Me" at his Aston Villa initiation in 2014.
His career also featured lows, including relegation with Watford and a fan petition to exclude him from the 2014 World Cup squad, which hit him hard at age 24. Those experiences provided him with emotional detachment during tough managerial moments, including job pressure in October and November.
"It wasn’t as difficult as some people might have thought," Cleverley said. "I suffered a very difficult time in my playing career when I was 23, 24, that gave you a numbness and a thickness of skin in your life."
"It’s difficult not seeing your team win because you don’t sacrifice your life for poor performances or results," he continued. "That’s hard. You sacrifice so much to see no outcome. But the abuse, I can take that, I've been in football long enough. I enjoy being the person to give direction out of those moments."
Community commitment in Plymouth
Cleverley intends to stay at Plymouth for the long haul and treats his managerial role as a long-term project. After moving to Devon, he took a local history tour to gain a better understanding of the city.
He spoke after Plymouth Argyle received a £65,000 grant from the Sky Bet EFL Building Foundations Fund to launch a community programme supporting women through perimenopause and menopause.
"We’re a club that really does walk the walk when we say we’re a community club and a family club," Cleverley said. "We have days with open training, Christmas carols, whatever it may be, we try to engage and give back to our loyal supporters."
"I’m certainly passionate, intense, players will call me quite detailed," Cleverley said. "I want to create an energy within the stadium. That’s a real important connection. I’m excited to be on this journey."
