By Victor Kanayo
Crystal Palace have announced the return of 75-year-old Roy Hodgson as coach of the struggling English Premier League side.
Back from retirement, Hodgson is expected to take charge till end of the current season.
This was disclosed by the club in a statement via its website on Tuesday morning.
“I would like to welcome Roy and Ray back to the club,” said Palace Chairman Steve Parish.
“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.”
Hodgson replaces Patrick Vieira – who was sacked on Friday – and returns to Selhurst Park just under two years after he initially left the club.
He spent nearly four years with Palace, his boyhood club, between September 2017 and May 2021.
During his time in charge, he guided the Eagles to 11th, 12th 14th and 14th placed finishes.
Hodgson was replaced in the summer of 2021 by Vieira as Palace chiefs sought to bring in a more modern coach.
However, things didn’t work out as planned.
This is because Vieira eventually struggled to turnaround his side’s poor form since the Premier League returned after the World Cup.
Ray Lewington also returns to Palace as first-team coach with Paddy McCarthy, who took charge of Sunday’s 4-1 defeat at Arsenal, named assistant manager.
Hodgson managed Watford from January to May 2022, and left after they were relegated to the Championship.
Palace are 12th in the top flight, but only three points above the relegation zone following their defeat at Emirates Stadium on Sunday March 19, 2023.
