Crystal Palace want Roy Hodgson to stay at the club and work with their next manager after guiding them to the brink of Premier League safety on his return to Selhurst Park.
Hodgson, 75, came out of retirement to save Palace’s season following the dismissal of Patrick Vieira, and has masterminded three consecutive victories, taking them to 12th in the table, nine points clear of the relegation zone.
His appointment was until the end of the season and it is understood that Palace are open to him staying in some capacity, possibly alongside a younger manager who would eventually take full control of the team. Regardless of the profile of the next appointee, it is thought that Hodgson could have some role.
Hodgson left Palace in 2021 after a four-year spell in charge, with chairman Steve Parish stating on his return that his experience and knowledge of the club and its players led to him being asked to come out of retirement.
On his unveiling, Hodgson admitted he felt too young to walk away from the game. “I’ve accepted that I’ve retired, as it were, because that’s what everyone’s been saying. But at the same time I’ve never felt old enough to retire,” he said.
He has been assisted by Paddy McCarthy, who was previously in charge of the Under-21s, with the former Palace defender highly rated as a coach.
Palace are now among the clubs in the Premier League with managers appointed until the end of the season following dismissals. Tottenham, Leicester City, Leeds United, Southampton and Chelsea have also made short-term appointments.
Hodgson was appointed on March 21, with long-term assistant Ray Lewington coming back as first-team coach, and has so far guided Palace to victories over Leicester, Leeds and Southampton, taking the side to 36 points.
Hodgson’s first arrival at the club, six years ago, was also to rescue Palace’s season, albeit much earlier in the campaign after they had made a disastrous start under Frank de Boer, who lasted five games and 77 days in charge.
Palace defender Joel Ward, speaking to the BBC, said Hodgson has brought a freedom to the squad. “With Roy coming back in and taking the helm it has given people a bit of a lift and freedom to express themselves. Everyone at the moment is singing off the same hymn sheet and the results have spoken for themselves.”