March 21 – Roy Hodgson is back in the manager’s hot seat. The veteran coach has been taken on the role at Crystal Palace until the end of the season, succeeding Patrick Vieira who was sacked last week.
In charge of Palace from 2017 to 2021, the 75-year-old will return to Selhurst Park after the club have gone 13 games without a win.
At the weekend, Palace lost 4-1 to league leaders Arsenal prompting Steve Parish to bring back Hodgson. The former England manager will have a simple task: to save the club from relegation.
In a statement, Hodgson said: “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. Our sole objective now is to start winning matches, and to get the points necessary to ensure our Premier League status.
“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.”
Palace sit in 12th in the Premier League table, but the position, just three points above the relegation zone, is hardly comfortable.
Parish said: “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.”
In his distinguished career, Hodgson has been one of the most travelled English coaches, having coached in Sweden, the UAE, Switzerland and Milan.
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