Roy Hodgson to bid farewell to Crystal Palace – and no plans for a quick return to management

Roy Hodgson is not planning on a quick return to football management after the announcement he will be leaving Crystal Palace after this weekend’s Premier League finale at Liverpool.

The Eagles confirmed that the Croydon-born boss, 73, was stepping down from his role after the trip to Liverpool on Sunday.

Hodgson had been linked recently with one of his former clubs – West Bromwich Albion – but made clear in his press conference before tomorrow’s home game against Arsenal that he had no intention to move straight into another job.

The South Londoner has been in charge of Palace since September 2017 – clocking up 160 matches. He has only managed more games at Malmo (165) in a coaching career that started at Halmstads BK in 1976.

“It’s a decision which hasn’t been taken overnight, it has been brewing for a long time,” said Hodgson.

“I’ve had at the back of my mind that the right time to leave the club, and maybe even leave football for a while, has been the end of this season.

“I’m pleased, despite the speculation over the last two months, that we’ve been able to keep things on an even keel and ending the season in a very dignified way, and that was important to me. I didn’t want to end, if you like, in a way that wasn’t reflective of what we’ve been doing over the last four years.

“It’s a dangerous thing to do, when you still feel good about yourself and enjoy your life in football, to suddenly start making bold statements about retirement and this is the end of me within the world of football.

“I don’t know. But I’m certainly not leaving Crystal Palace with the idea of putting myself back on the market and trying to get myself another job. I’m stepping down from the club and stepping away from football for a while. Who knows what the future will bring? I’ll wait and see what happens.

“It is a never say never moment.”