Crystal Palace has made an exciting announcement that Roy Hodgson will continue to lead the team as the head coach for the upcoming 2023-24 season. At the age of 75, Hodgson’s return to the position in March came after the departure of Patrick Vieira, who had taken over from Hodgson himself in the summer of 2021 but failed to achieve favorable results.
Under Hodgson’s guidance, Crystal Palace experienced a remarkable turnaround in their performance. The team significantly improved their attacking prowess, securing victories against prominent opponents such as Leicester City, Leeds United, Southampton, West Ham United, and Bournemouth.
During his tenure, Hodgson managed to draw three matches and suffered only two defeats out of a total of 10 games. This success ultimately helped the Eagles avoid relegation to the Championship and secure an impressive 11th-place finish in the Premier League, surpassing even their London rivals, Chelsea.
Initially, it was expected that Hodgson would depart at the end of the season as the club sought fresh leadership.
However, to the delight of fans, he has committed himself to Crystal Palace for the next 12 months. Hodgson expressed his immense pleasure and pride in extending his time with the club. He acknowledged the fantastic squad at Palace, consisting of both young and promising players as well as experienced individuals with Premier League and international experience.
Hodgson emphasized the importance of ambition and revealed that their target for the upcoming season is to secure a top-half finish, a goal he believes is highly attainable with the talented players and dedicated supporters.
Crystal Palace Chairman Steve Parish commended Hodgson’s managerial record, highlighting the positive impact he had made since returning to the club earlier in the year. Parish expressed his confidence in Hodgson’s ability to continue the team’s success, especially with a full pre-season to prepare and build upon the momentum gained during his previous tenure.
Hodgson’s first spell at Crystal Palace, lasting from 2017 to 2021, was marked by 54 wins, 36 draws, and 72 defeats. He briefly managed Watford in the second half of the 2021-22 season, but unfortunately, the club was unable to avoid relegation to the Championship.
Looking ahead, Crystal Palace has a busy pre-season schedule planned, including matches against Barnet, Brondby, and Crawley Town. The team will also embark on a trip to the United States, where they will face Millonarios and Sevilla in friendly encounters.
The Premier League season will commence with an away match against newly-promoted Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, followed by Hodgson’s eagerly anticipated return to Selhurst Park for a clash against Arsenal.
With Hodgson at the helm and the team’s determination, Crystal Palace fans can eagerly anticipate an exciting and promising season ahead.