Crystal Palace have confirmed that Roy Hodgson will leave the club at the end of the season following three-and-a-half-years in charge at Selhurst Park.
The 73-year-old joined the club in 2017 and has turned them into a stable outfit in the Premier League.
Roy Hodgson Departs Crystal Palace
A New Direction for the Eagles
The departure of Hodgson is likely to cue a new direction for the Eagles.
Hodgson has been coy in revealing whether he will be staying at Selhurst Park beyond the expiry of his contract at the end of the season.
His departure has led to speculation as to whether this will be his last job in football. Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the visit of Aston Villa, he said: “I haven’t thought about retirement as yet. There will come a time, I’m certain, in my life when I will talk about retirement, but I am not talking about it at the moment.
“I haven’t read the reports to be perfectly honest. I have said all along there will be a time for an announcement as to what my future is going to be.”
However, the confirmation of his departure will allow the club to take time to decide who will replace the 73-year-old.
Although Hodgson has stabilised them as a mid-table Premier League outfit, the style of football implemented at Selhurst Park has been criticised over the last two seasons.
Palace have not been in the relegation zone since March 10, 2018, but they have been incredibly inconsistent at times. They scored just 31 goals last season, the second-fewest in the Premier League.
Hodgson has looked to fix that this season, and although they have, his side have conceded 59 times at the other end of the pitch. As a result, it has led to fans directing their frustrations at the Palace boss.
Who is in Line to Replace Roy Hodgson?
The former England boss is likely to be replaced by a younger manager who will help to bring the average age of the squad down. According to Jack Rosser of the Evening Standard, Frank Lampard is one of the leading candidates to take over from Hodgson.
Lampard may be the perfect fit for the hot seat at Selhurst Park; he gave several prospects at Chelsea the opportunity to stake their claim in the first-team, while also looking to play an attacking style of football. However, Palace fans do have some concerns about the 42-year-old – Lampard failed to solve Chelsea’s defensive issues during his time at Stamford Bridge, an area that also needs addressing in South London.
The Times, however, claim that the former Chelsea midfielder is not in the running, stating that Barnsley manager Valerien Ismael and Swansea City’s Steve Cooper are two of the leading candidates.
What Was Said?
Speaking about the decision to the Crystal Palace website, Hodgson said: “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.
“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.”
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