Roy Hodgson boost after fixing ‘retirement’ issues ahead of Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth

Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson is not thinking about retirement after enjoying his time since returning to Crystal Palace.
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Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson is not ruling out staying at Crystal Palace beyond this season after claiming he feels good and wants to continue working.

The 75-year-old has proven to be a massive hit since he replaced Patrick Vieira in March and has steered the club to Premier League safety with three games to spare.

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Hodgson born and bred in south London has traveled the world working in football from coaching Inter Milan to Liverpool and he’s had his share of international football too, having managed England and Switzerland in a glittering career that spans over three decades.

Roy’s time at Watford where they got relegated last season was supposed to bring down the curtains in his career but he’s beaten the odds and taken up a firefighters job at Palace and restored his reputation as one of the most underrated managers in English football.

Asked if he’s thought of what he’d do once the season end, he told reporters he was keeping his options open and looking forward to more opportunities.

He told South London Press ahead of Bournemouth this weekend: “The one thing I’m not going to do is mention retirement.

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“I don’t think I did the first time, really – I tried not to. But it became assumed that when I left Crystal Palace and didn’t look for another job, I was retired.

“But I’m certainly not going to make that mistake again. As when I went to Watford, the talk was: ‘He came out of retirement.I do that [Watford], and then that finishes, and then I come out of retirement, retirement.

“I don’t want to come out of retirement, retirement, retirement. I will leave the options totally open. Who knows what will happen? I’m enjoying life at the moment. All the time I feel capable of working, I will consider offers that will come my way.

“I don’t have an agent actively seeking work for me.”

The Eagles have picked up 13 points from a possible 21 since Roy returned to the club, with players like Eberechi Eze, Michael Olise, and Jordan Ayew all rediscovering their magical touch.