So much for retirement: Roy Hodgson returns to the bench at age 78

Two years after what seemed to have been his last experience on the bench, at Crystal Palace, Roy Hodgson does not want to know about retiring: the former coach of, among many others, Inter Milan, Udinese and the English national team has in fact accepted an offer from Bristol City, a club currently in the second half of the Championship (the English B) standings that has experienced a nightmarish month of March, with only one draw against three league defeats, in addition to the elimination in the FA Cup in extra time against Port Vale.

Charlie Boss, Bristol City’s chief executive, has decided to hand the team over to Hodgson by giving the Austrian coach Gerhard Struber and the latter’s assistant, Bernd Eibler, the boot: “Roy’s appointment goes beyond the results that will come in the next seven games,” he said. Between now and the end of the season, he will help set the club’s standards and values, which are key elements in building our success in the future.”

“Roy is an enormously experienced coach who has achieved results and won at the highest level,” Boss added. “He will be a benchmark for me, the players and the entire coaching staff as we work to reach our potential. However, Hodgson will be a ferryman, at least in the club’s intentions: “We are working to find the name of the next sporting director, who will have a direct role in the choice of the new permanent coach,” specified the white-and-white club’s CEO.

Hodgson, who turned 78 last Aug. 9, expressed great satisfaction with his new commitment: “I had very good impressions after the interview with the club’s management,” he said, “I am excited to have the opportunity to contribute until the end of the season. We will immediately get to work and look for a positive performance already in the Good Friday match.” Indeed, the league is, at the moment, on break: on Friday, April 3, Hodgson’s debut on the bench in Charlton Athletic-Bristol City.