Yahoo Finance Crystal Palace confirm Roy Hodgson to leave club at end of season
Crystal Palace have confirmed that Roy Hodgson will leave his role as manager at the end of the season, with the former England boss confirming his retirement from full-time management.
The 73-year-old will take charge of his final game at Selhurst Park against Arsenal tomorrow, before his last as Eagles boss comes away to former club Liverpool on the final day of the season.
Hodgson, who began his career as a goal with Swedish side Halmstad in 1976, took charge at boyhood club Palace early in the 2017/18 season when they were without a point and had not scored a single goal under Frank de Boer. Hodgson saved Palace from relegation and has given the club unprecedented stability in the Premier League over the past four years.
“After more than 45 years of coaching I have decided that the time is right for me to step away from the rigours of top-flight Premier League football, so our final two matches will be my last ones as manager of Crystal Palace,” said Hodgson.
“It’s been a particularly rewarding period of my football life and career to have been able to spend these last four seasons with Palace. I feel now that at the end of another successful season, in which we have secured our Premier League status, the moment is right for me to step down from my responsibilities of being a full-time manager.
“I have had so much support from my wife and family throughout my career and I have been contemplating this decision for some time, and now I believe the time is right to consider them and to see what the future holds for me.
“I have really enjoyed my time at Palace, I have been privileged to work with an outstanding group of professional and dedicated players, most of whom have been with me throughout the four years. A manager is only as good as the players who perform on the pitch. I have been fortunate that those in my charge have certainly given me that and I thank them for it.
“I am sure I speak for all the players, my coaching staff and backroom team, when I say I am proud of the work we have done together to retain our Premier League status during this time.
“I would also like to thank our Chairman Steve Parish, his partners David Blitzer and Josh Harris and Sporting Director Dougie Freedman for all their support over the years. They gave me an opportunity to return to my hometown club and I have always felt we were singing from the same hymn sheet in trying to achieve our joint goals. I can only wish them all the very best of luck for a successful future and I am convinced that the club will go from strength to strength.”
Chairman Steve Parish will now begin the search for a successor, with Burnley manager Sean Dyche the leading candidate and Frank Lampard and Steve Cooper also under consideration.
“It has been an absolute privilege and pleasure to work alongside Roy, who is both a magnificent human and an outstanding football manager,” said Parish. “I know how much it has meant to Roy managing the club he supported as a child, adding to his distinguished and unparalleled career in football management.
“His record with us simply cannot be overstated, he is the only Palace manager to secure four years in the Premier League and he has helped give us stability in the most turbulent of times. We will be forever grateful for his immense contribution and I am delighted that we will have the opportunity to show our appreciation at Selhurst Park after the Arsenal match, alongside 6,500 supporters.
“Roy will leave us after our final Premier League match of the season with our enormous thanks for his incredible contribution to our club, and with our very best wishes for the future.”
Crystal Palace have also confirmed that Hodgson’s assistant, Ray Lewington, will also leave his role come the end of the season.
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