Tom Cleverley is continuing his career at Watford as a coach with the Academy.

The former club captain announced his retirement from playing at the start of this month following a bad run of injuries, and at the time the Hornets said they would be announcing some “exciting news” soon in conjunction with the midfielder.

We reported that Cleverley was set to stay at Vicarage Road, most likely as a coach within the Academy, and Watford have now confirmed his appointment as assistant coach for the Under-18s.

Cleverley said: "This opportunity couldn’t have come at a better time in my footballing journey.

“I said recently that injury had taken away the chance for me to carry on playing, so coaching is definitely the next best thing and something I’d been working towards getting into for a while."

The former England, Manchester United and Everton midfielder played the first three games of last season but was then sidelined by an ankle injury which ultimately required surgery.

Cleverley was due to start in the away game at Burnley on February 14, but sustained a thigh injury in the warm-up and that ended his season.

He made 181 appearances for the Hornets, including a loan spell in the 2009/10 season, and then again in 2017 after which he signed permanently.

Cleverley scored a total of 19 goals for Watford, the last of them being the only goal in a 1-0 victory over eventual Championship winners Burnley at Vicarage Road in August.

The Academy's Head of Technical Development Jimmy Gilligan told the club website: “We are delighted that Tom will join Watford FC’s Academy.

“He’ll join us as a PDP coach and work with our Under-18s. Tom will bring a wealth of knowledge and playing experience to the scholars at the club.

“He has worked under some great coaches and managers during his playing career and it's clear, when speaking to him, he wants to share this knowledge with the young players we have at the club.

“All the staff within the Academy are delighted to welcome Tom as he takes his first steps of what I am sure will be a long and successful coaching career.”

Watford have stated Cleverley will also be an ad hoc ambassador for the club when coaching commitments allow.