Former England manager Roy Hodgson, 78, has made a stunning return to football after two years out of the game, signing as Bristol City’s interim boss
Roy Hodgson has had a whirlwind decade as he returns to football once more at Bristol City(Image: PA)
English football has welcomed back one of its most respected figures after Roy Hodgson returned to coaching at Bristol City. The sport is enriched by the return of one of the most astute managerial minds of the last three decades.
The former England, Liverpool and Inter Milan boss has agreed to take charge of the Robins as interim manager for the remainder of this season. His role will be to extract whatever success remains possible from the campaign after a promising start to the term has fallen flat.
Hodgson, who previously coached City in 1982, has assumed control of the side as a temporary successor to Gerhard Struber, who was sacked on Friday. Bristol City currently occupy 16th in the Championship with just a handful of fixtures left, although a play-off spot remains mathematically achievable.
The news has proved particularly surprising given Hodgson seemed to have hung up his suit for good following his departure from Crystal Palace two years ago. The Bristol Post examines some of the indicators that suggested he would find it difficult to stay away from the game for long.
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Managerial return
Bristol City have shown their ambition by bringing in Hodgson on a short-term contract until the end of the campaign. The Robins may sit 12 points adrift of the play-off positions with just seven matches remaining but it’s far from an impossible task at this stage.
Following two years away from football, there are legitimate doubts about whether the former West Brom and Watford manager still has what it takes. However, the club evidently believes in his capacity to make a difference across multiple aspects of the organisation during his brief tenure.
“Roy’s appointment is about more than the results of the next seven games,” Bristol City’s chief executive officer, Charlie Boss, said in a statement confirming Hodgson’s arrival. “Over the remainder of the season, he will help us set the standards and values at the club that we will need to be successful going forwards.
“Roy is a vastly experienced coach who has achieved and won at the highest level. He will support me, our players and our football staff as we build towards achieving our potential. We are in the process of appointing a sporting director who will have a direct input into the recruitment of a new permanent head coach.”
Health scare
Hodgson’s last job was in charge of Crystal Palace two years ago(Image: Getty Images)
Hodgson’s final stint at Selhurst Park concluded on an unfortunate note after he became unwell during a training session in February 2024. He was taken to hospital and accompanied by Palace chairman Steve Parish, a situation which led to his swift replacement.
“Following news that Roy Hodgson was taken ill during today’s training session, we can confirm that he is now stable and is currently undergoing tests in hospital,” a Palace statement said at the time. “Everybody at the club sends their best wishes to Roy for a speedy recovery.”
It wasn’t long before word came through that Hodgson was in a stable condition, although further information about the health incident is limited. Nevertheless, Hodgson subsequently resigned from his managerial position and was succeeded by Oliver Glasner, who had been among the favourites to take over had he been sacked in any case.
Consequently, it was widely believed Hodgson had retired from management following such an alarming incident. That was until a particular Championship club with plenty still at stake this season came knocking.
Wife’s candid view
Sheila Hodgson had a big role to play in her husband’s last big comeback(Image: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Amid the upheaval that accompanies a comeback at 78, the person who will feel its effects most acutely is Hodgson’s wife of more than half a century, Sheila. Interestingly, it was his spouse who played a key role in persuading him to return to the game the last time he stepped away.
Following a disappointing Euro 2016 tournament, Hodgson resigned as England manager and took a year-long break from the sport. He assumed control of boyhood club Palace in 2017 and enjoyed a notably successful period in charge, which might never have materialised without Sheila’s support.
“We’ve been married 46 years,” he said in 2018 when reflecting on his wife and the decision to re-enter football. “There have been moments when we have discussed that together. There have been moments when we’ve thought, well, is this the moment now to do something else?
“Well, we tried that for a year. And she came to the conclusion that she better let me back in for a little bit longer.”