Tom Cleverley, a former English professional footballer who primarily played as a midfielder, recently announced his retirement from professional football on 1 July 2023 due to injury. He began his football journey in the youth setup of Bradford City before joining Manchester United at the age of 12. From 2007 to 2009, Cleverley featured for Manchester United's reserve team and occasionally played in first-team friendlies. In 2009, he was loaned to Leicester City in League One, where he helped the team secure the League One title and gain promotion to the Championship. The following season, Cleverley impressed on loan at Watford, scoring 11 goals in 33 league matches and earning the title of their Player of the Season. He then joined Wigan Athletic on a season-long loan in 2010, contributing four goals in 25 appearances and helping the team avoid relegation. Cleverley returned to Manchester United for the 2011-2012 season and played a role in their FA Community Shield victory against Manchester City. He also won the Premier League title with Manchester United in 2013. Cleverley represented Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics and made his debut for the England national team the same year. His international career includes 13 caps, with his most recent appearance against Germany in November 2013.
Tom Cleverley is a former football player who has played for the teams such as Watford, Everton, Manchester United, Leicester City and more clubs before his retirement on 1st July 2023 due to injury. He started his career at Bradford City's youth setup and later joined Manchester United, where he played for their reserve team and occasionally in first-team friendlies. He had successful loan spells at Leicester City and Watford, helping both teams achieve promotions. He also had a loan stint at Wigan Athletic before returning to Manchester United and winning the Premier League title in 2013. He represented Great Britain at the 2012 Olympics and earned 13 caps for the England national team.
Tom Cleverley, whose birth name is Thomas William Cleverley, was born on August 12, 1989, making him 33 years old as of 2022. He was born in Basingstoke, England, but grew up in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Cleverley holds British nationality and identifies as British-White. He practices Christianity and his zodiac sign is Leo. While his father's name is Andrew Cleverly, the name of his mother is undisclosed. During his childhood, Cleverley faced a speech impediment and earned the nickname "Chunks". He attended Hanson School for his education.
Tom Cleverley began his football journey with Bradford City's youth set-up but joined Manchester United at the age of 11 in July 2000. In the 2005-2006 season, he made nine appearances for the under-18 team and got his first taste of reserve team football when he was named on the bench for a match against Everton in February 2006. His first appearance for the reserves came almost a year later in a draw against Bolton Wanderers. However, he suffered a long-term injury soon after and was sidelined for seven months. Cleverley returned to action in October 2007 and became a regular in the Manchester United reserve team during the 2007-2008 season, helping the team win the Manchester Senior Cup and the Lancashire Senior Cup. He scored his first goal for the club in January 2008 and was even named captain of the reserves on occasion. As a result of his performances, he was called up to the Manchester United first team for their tour of South Africa and made his debut in a match against Kaizer Chiefs. Cleverley continued to be part of the reserve team and received a squad number for the first team in the 2008-2009 season, appearing on the bench for League Cup matches.
Tom joined Leicester City on loan for the remainder of the 2008-2009 season on 16 January 2009, wearing the number 7 shirt. He made his debut on 19 January 2009 as a substitute in a 2-0 win over Yeovil Town. Cleverley scored his first goal for Leicester City on 3 February 2009 in a 4-1 victory against Walsall, and he added another goal on 7 March 2009 in a 4-0 win over Cheltenham Town. Unfortunately, his loan spell was cut short due to a shoulder injury suffered against Colchester United. Cleverley returned to Manchester United for treatment and underwent surgery, but he was presented with a medal by Leicester City after their promotion as champions of League One. After featuring and scoring in a pre-season friendly, Cleverley was loaned out by Alex Ferguson to gain more first-team experience. He signed for Watford on loan on 18 August 2009 and scored in their match against Nottingham Forest, sealing a 4-2 win. He scored another goal on his home debut and extended his loan deal until the end of the season. Cleverley scored a total of five goals in 20 appearances for Watford before a knee injury cut short his season, but he was named the team's Player of the Season.
On July 1, 2010, Cleverley signed a new contract with Manchester United, keeping him at the club until 2013. He returned to the club for the 2010-11 season and impressed during their pre-season tour in North America, scoring goals against Celtic and in the 2010 MLS All-Star Game. On August 31, 2010, he joined Wigan Athletic on a season-long loan, with Manchester United having the option to recall him in January. Cleverley made his Premier League debut for Wigan on September 11, 2010, but suffered a knee injury in training soon after. He made his comeback on October 16, 2010, and went on to score his first Premier League goal for Wigan on November 27. Cleverley's loan was extended until the end of the season, and he contributed with crucial goals and assists, ending the campaign with three goals and two assists in 25 league appearances for Wigan.
Paul Scholes' retirement created an opportunity for Cleverley to fill the void in Manchester United's central midfield. He impressed manager Alex Ferguson in a pre-season friendly against Barcelona, leading to the possibility of him starting in the opening Premier League fixture. Cleverley made his competitive debut as a substitute in the FA Community Shield, providing an assist. He then started his first Premier League match against West Bromwich Albion, followed by impressive performances against Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal. However, a foot injury sustained in the match against Bolton Wanderers sidelined him for a month. In October 2011, Cleverley signed a new contract with Manchester United, but his return from injury was short-lived as he suffered an ankle injury soon after. Despite a promising performance, he was sidelined until Christmas. He made his comeback in January 2012 and appeared sporadically throughout the season, facing setbacks and tough competition for a first-team spot. In the 2012-2013 season, Cleverley scored his first goals for the club, including a goal in the League Cup against Newcastle United and a league goal against the same team. He struggled to secure a regular place in the starting lineup but made enough appearances to earn a Premier League winner's medal.
In the 2013-14 season, he faced competition for a midfield spot at Manchester United under new manager David Moyes, and he started playing in a deeper position. He scored a goal in a victory over Aston Villa but received strong criticism from Manchester United supporters, leading to a petition against his inclusion in the England squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Despite the criticism, Cleverley made 32 appearances and scored once in all competitions that season. In the following season, with new signings and a change in management, Cleverley found himself on the sidelines at Manchester United and attracted interest from Aston Villa and Everton, with Villa eventually making a loan bid for him. Following a late transfer completion just after the deadline, Tom Cleverley joined Aston Villa on loan from Manchester United. Cleverley made his debut in a win over Liverpool and faced criticism from some Villa supporters. He had confrontations with assistant manager Roy Keane but managed to regain his form and scored his first goal for the club. Cleverley played a crucial role in helping Aston Villa avoid relegation and reached the FA Cup Final. At the end of the season, he was released by Manchester United along with four other players. Tom Cleverley joined Everton on a five-year contract after leaving Manchester United. He made his debut in a draw against Watford but suffered an injury that kept him sidelined for several weeks. Cleverley returned to the first team and scored his first goal for Everton against Newcastle United. In his second season, he struggled to secure a regular spot in the team under manager Ronald Koeman.
Tom then joined Watford on loan from Everton in January 2017 and made a permanent move in July that year. He played a crucial role in matches against Bournemouth and Arsenal, securing a permanent five-year contract. Cleverley continued to feature regularly under manager Marco Silva, scoring his first goal for Watford in October 2017. He experienced relegation and promotion with the club in subsequent seasons and was appointed captain in July 2022. However, due to injury, Cleverley announced his retirement from professional football on 1 July 2023.
Internationally, he received his first call-up to the England under-20 team in March 2009 but had to withdraw due to a shoulder injury. He eventually made his debut in August of that year, scoring two goals in a 5-0 win over Montenegro. He made his debut for the England U-21 team in September 2009. Cleverley was also selected for the Great Britain Olympic team in 2012 and played in warm-up matches against Brazil and in the opening fixture against Senegal. He was impressed with his performances and assists in the tournament. Cleverley received his first call-up to the England senior team in August 2011, but his debut was delayed due to the cancellation of a friendly match. He made his debut in 2012 and went on to earn 13 caps, with his last appearance coming in November 2013 against Germany.
Leicester City
Manchester United
Aston Villa
Watford
Individual
Tom Cleverley is a highly accomplished football player who has amassed a substantial net worth of £27 million as of 2023. His primary source of wealth stems from his successful football career, lucrative contracts, and endorsement deals. Currently, he earns an impressive annual income of over 3 Million euros. This financial success allows him to lead a lavish lifestyle, evident in his possessions such as his Audi R8 sports car, valued at $100,000. After experiencing a burglary in 2015, he decided to put his Manchester house up for sale. Currently, Cleverley resides in a luxurious bungalow with his family, enjoying the comforts that his prosperous career has afforded him.
Tom Cleverley is happily married to his wife, Georgina Dorsett, who is a former star of the reality TV show "The Only Way Is Essex" (TOWIE). They began dating in May 2012 after being introduced by a mutual friend. In December 2012, Dorsett announced her pregnancy, and on June 7, 2013, they welcomed their daughter, Nevaeh Rose, into the world. The couple got engaged in July 2014 and tied the knot the following year. They expanded their family further with the birth of their son, Albie, on May 3, 2016. Cleverley and Dorsett are enjoying a joyful life together with their children. In October 2015, Tom Cleverley experienced a burglary at his residence while he was at home with his wife and their baby daughter. The thieves, who were armed, stole various items including watches, designer handbags, jewelry, and two Range Rovers.
In August 2010, The Sun newspaper falsely claimed that Tom Cleverley had "badgered" a girl for sex in Blackpool. However, in October 2011, Cleverley accepted significant undisclosed libel damages from the newspaper. It was proven that at the time of the alleged incident, Cleverley was actually at home in Manchester with his girlfriend, indicating the falsity of the claim.
Tom Cleverley is a talented and attractive footballer known for his athletic physique. Standing at a height of 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) and weighing 67 KG, he has a fit and well-maintained body. With his light brown hair and captivating blue eyes, he adds to his overall charm and appeal. Cleverley dedicates himself to regular exercise and takes great care of his physical fitness, resulting in a healthy and attractive appearance. He is very conscious about his food intake.
Tom Cleverley initially started his football journey in the youth setup of Bradford City. However, at the age of 11, he made a significant move and joined Manchester United as a trainee in July 2000. This transition marked a crucial step in his career as he joined one of the most successful and prestigious clubs in English football. The decision to join Manchester United proved to be a pivotal moment for Cleverley's development as a footballer. It provided him with the opportunity to train and play alongside some of the best talents in the country. Under the guidance of the renowned Manchester United youth system, Cleverley honed his skills and showcased his potential as a promising young player. This early exposure to top-level coaching and competition laid the foundation for his future success in the sport.
Tom Cleverley achieved a significant milestone in his football career when he won the Premier League title with Manchester United during the 2012-2013 season. As part of the squad under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson, Cleverley played a crucial role in the team's success and contributed to their triumph in one of the most prestigious and competitive leagues in world football. This achievement not only highlighted his abilities as a player but also showcased his dedication and commitment to the sport. Winning the Premier League title with Manchester United undoubtedly stands as one of the highlights of Cleverley's professional journey.
Tom had the honor of representing Great Britain at the 2012 Summer Olympics, a prestigious international sporting event. As a talented footballer, Cleverley was selected to be part of the Great Britain football team, which competed against various nations in the tournament. His participation in the Olympics showcased his skills and dedication to the sport on a global stage. Representing his country in such a prominent event not only allowed Cleverley to display his abilities as a player, but it also demonstrated the recognition and respect he garnered within the football community. Cleverley's involvement in the 2012 Summer Olympics marked a significant milestone in his career and a testament to his talent as a football player.
Cleverley, primarily known for his role as a midfielder, showcased versatility and skill throughout his career. Recognized for his technical abilities and exceptional passing skills, Cleverley made a significant impact on the field. As a midfielder, he demonstrated his versatility by effectively contributing to both the offensive and defensive aspects of the game. Cleverley's ability to control the midfield, create scoring opportunities, and distribute the ball with precision made him a valuable asset to his teams. His skill set as a midfielder allowed him to dictate the pace of the game and contribute to the overall success of his team.
Tom Cleverley and his wife, Georgina Dorsett, are proud parents of two children. Their journey into parenthood began with the birth of their daughter, Nevaeh Rose, on 7 June 2013. Cleverley and Dorsett were overjoyed to welcome their first child into the world. Later, they expanded their family when Dorsett gave birth to their son, Albie, on 3 May 2016. The couple cherished the precious moments of becoming parents once again and embraced the joys of having a son. Cleverley and Dorsett's love and commitment as parents are evident in the nurturing of their two children, creating a loving and supportive family environment.