Former Liverpool boss who is nearly 77 refuses to rule out return to management

Roy Hodgson has stopped short of confirming that he has retired from management despite his latest stint with Crystal Palace ending in hospital.

The former Liverpool boss had seemingly retired twice before, when first leaving the Eagles in May 2021 and after a brief stint with Watford in 2022 following their relegation to the Championship.

Returning to Palace following Patrick Vieira’s dismissal in March 2023, Hodgson was initially only contracted to the club until the end of the season. But after steering the Eagles clear of relegation, he signed a new one-year contract last summer.

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However, Hodgson would step down from his post in February 2024. Amid reports that he was going to be sacked, the 76-year-old was taken to hospital after being taken ill during a training session, before resigning from his posts days later.

Now back in good health, the former England manager was in good spirits when asked about his future by Sky Sports. But while he’s not rushing to return to management, Hodgson has refused to rule out another comeback.

“To be honest it's been a long while since I waited for phones to ring,” said Hodgson, who turns 77 in August.. “I was fortunate after leaving England a couple of phone calls were made and I was very happy to take the job on offer there.

“It’s not something I go to bed at night thinking about. But once again, you never know in football. I don’t know.

“I’m frightened in a way to say, ‘No, you’ll never see me out on a football field again,’ because I did it twice and came back twice. I don't want to be Frank Sinatra and keep retiring.

“I’ll keep my powder dry but I’m perfectly happy at the moment and I’m wishing the guys in the job all the very best, and suffering with them on matchdays because I know how much one does suffer on matchdays.”