Roy Hodgson, 74, named Watford manager after Claudio Ranieri sacked by Premier League strugglers
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 25/01/2022 at 19:50 GMT
Roy Hodgson suggested he may have retired from management when leaving Crystal Palace at the end of last season, but the 74-year-old is back with Premier League strugglers Watford, who sit 19th in the table after sliding down the standings under Claudio Ranieri. The Italian was sacked by Watford on Monday.
Crystal Palace's English manager Roy Hodgson acknowledges the applause of the crowd ahead of the English Premier League football match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park
Image credit: Getty Images
Watford have confirmed the appointment of Roy Hodgson - initially until the end of the season - after sacking Claudio Ranieri on Monday.
Hodgson returns to the Premier League fold after less than 12 months away, having left Crystal Palace at the end of last season.
The 74-year-old is tasked with saving Watford from relegation, with the Hornets 19th in the Premier League table after picking up just two league wins under 70-year-old Ranieri.
Hodgson is the third manager to take charge of Watford this season, with Ranieri replacing Xisco Munoz back in October.
He will be joined by assistant Ray Lewington, who managed the Hornets from 2002 until 2005.
Watford are next in action on February 5 against Burnley, who are bottom of the table but have the most games in hand of any side in the Premier League.
It was thought Hodgson had retired from management when departing Palace, but the former England, Liverpool and Fulham boss is back and goes down as the 15th permanent appointment since the Pozzo family became owners of Watford a decade ago.
“Goodbyes have never been my forte,” Hodgson had said after announcing he would leave Palace. “I’ve been much better at hellos. It risks being an emotional occasion and I’m not good on emotional occasions.
“I had in the back of my mind that the right time to leave the club and maybe even to leave football for a while would be at the end of the season.”
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement