Football

Roy Hodgson Comes Out of Retirement to Rescue Crystal Palace

Roy Hodgson Comes Out of Retirement to Rescue Crystal Palace

Roy Hodgson has returned from retirement to replace Patrick Vieira as manager of Crystal Palace for the remainder of the Premier League season.

The Eagles confirmed on Tuesday morning that the 75-year-old will lead the Premier League team for a second time in the hopes of stabilizing their season.

The former England manager is been tasked with rescue the Eagles from relegation after Vieira failed to win a league game in 2023.

Hodgson Returns In Hopes of Helping Eagles Fly Again

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Between 2017 and 2021, Hodgson was in command at Selhurst Park for four years, keeping the club in the Premier League each season. He was replaced by Vieira in the summer of 2021 as Palace officials desired a more modern coach.

This season, though, Vieira has struggled to turn around his team’s poor performance since the Premier League resumed after the World Cup. The team are winless in 2023, their last three points coming on New Year’s Eve in a 2-0 victory over Bournemouth.

Now, Hodgson has been rehired to stabilize the team until a new search for a permanent manager commences in the summer.

Ray Lewington, Hodgson’s longtime assistant manager, will return to Selhurst Park as first-team coach, while interim manager Paddy McCarthy will become his number two. Dean Kiely will continue to serve as goalkeeper coach.

McCarthy will be replaced as under-21s manager by Darren Powell following his move to the first-team coaching staff. Chairman Stephen Parish welcomed Hodgson back to his boyhood club, acknowledging the Eagles’ “very challenging” situation at the moment.

“I would like to welcome Roy and Ray back to the club. We are obviously in a very challenging period but we believe that Roy’s and Ray’s experience, knowledge of the club and players, alongside Paddy can help fulfil the immediate requirement of keeping us in the league,” Parish said.

Hodgson Happy to Return to Palace

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Hodgson also expressed his pleasure at returning to Palace and stressed that his primary responsibility was to keep the Eagles in the Premier League.

Last season, he was Watford’s manager, however he was unable to preserve the Hornets from relegation.

“It is a privilege to be asked to return to the club, which has always meant so much to me, and to be given the important task of turning the team’s fortunes around,” he said.

“Crystal Palace is known for its fighting spirit, and I have no doubt that all our supporters will fight with us, beginning with the visit of Leicester City a week Saturday,” the club chairman added.

As the international break approaches, Hodgson takes over a Palace team that is 12th in the Premier League. Nonetheless, they are only three points above the relegation zone after going so long without earning three points.

Having lost 4-1 to Arsenal under interim management at the weekend, Palace face into two vital fixtures in April after the Premier League resumes following the international break.

The Eagles face relegation rivals Leicester City at Selhurst Park on April 1st and they then face into an away fixture versus Leeds United the following week in another relegation battle.

 

 


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