Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson, 72, still has exactly the same love for management

BY SAM SMITH

Roy Hodgson says he enjoys managing as much as ever.

The 72-year-old has been manager of Crystal Palace since September 2017 but his contract runs out at the end of the season – with no news of an extension on the horizon.

Hodgson has been coaching since taking over Swedish side Halmstad in 1976 and his career has taken him to 16 different clubs and four national sides, including England.

The Eagles drew 1-1 with Southampton on Saturday, and Saints boss Ralph Hassenhutl praised Hodgson’s passion to still be managing at such an age.

“I do enjoy it as much as ever,” said Hodgson. “It’s a good question but it’s not one I ask myself very often. I presume that as I’m still doing it, and enjoying still doing it, that I must be enjoying it.

“I just relish being with the team. Especially a team I identify as closely with as Crystal Palace. The players are so consistent in their approach and they are so professional and hard-working – they are so reliable.

“It really is all you’re looking for as a manager in a group of players. It’s a pleasure to train with them every day, it’s a pleasure to see them play every weekend. I do enjoy it.”

The Eagles face Norwich City tomorrow to continue their draining festive period of fixtures. There were just two days between Palace’s victory against West Ham on Boxing Day and their draw with the Saints.

Hodgson is looking forward to returning to a more structured phase of matches – particularly as it would help them deal with their injury crisis.

He said: “Like all managers, even though I do regard myself as more of a coach than as an actual manager – I don’t spend my days sat in an office ringing around to agents discussing what players are available in the transfer window – like everyone, I prefer it when we play one Saturday then play the next Saturday. Because that period in between, that’s your working time. That’s the time you spend with the players, work on your shape, work on your tactics and what you want to see from them.

“We can’t do that. We’re just patching people up and trying to make sure we don’t do anything in training which would make the situation in terms of slight strains and injuries even worse. I’ll be quite pleased when this period is over. I’ll be pleased when we have a week in between matches when you can look after your players better and when you can, of course, work on your game, which at the moment we have not been able to do for the last week or so.

“They’re a good team, Norwich. They’re a good team. They play some excellent football. It will be as big a test as West Ham and Southampton were for us.”