After nearly half a century of football management, it was announced on Tuesday morning that Roy Hodgson will step away from football.
The 73-year-old has been at Crystal Palace since September 2017, a club where he has enjoyed long-standing stability in the Premier League for four consecutive seasons - but with his contract expiring in the summer, along with several key players, the Croydon club's rebuild starts at the helm.
“After more than 45 years of coaching, I have decided that the time is right for me to step away from the rigours of top-flight Premier League football, so our final two matches will be my last ones as manager of Crystal Palace," Hodgson recollected.
“It’s been a particularly rewarding period of my football life and career to have been able to spend these last four seasons with Palace. I feel now that at the end of another successful season, in which we have secured our Premier League status, the moment is right for me to step down from my responsibilities of being a full-time manager."
The former England international bosses final game in management will come at Anfield, where he spent six months of his career at. But before his farewell, the Eagles boss will be treated to a home crowd at Selhurst Park.
“I have really enjoyed my time at Palace, I have been privileged to work with an outstanding group of professional and dedicated players, most of whom have been with me throughout the four years. A manager is only as good as the players who perform on the pitch. I have been fortunate that those in my charge have certainly given me that and I thank them for it.
“I am sure I speak for all the players, my coaching staff and backroom team when I say I am proud of the work we have done together to retain our Premier League status during this time."
Hodgson's reign crowned a decade where the club pulled together and saved them from financial hardship. Along with Hodgson's safety net management, Steve Parish, the chairman, was at the forefront of achieving Premier League mainstay status.
He continued: “I would also like to thank our Chairman Steve Parish, his partners David Blitzer and Josh Harris and Sporting Director Dougie Freedman for all their support over the years. They allowed me to return to my hometown club and I have always felt we were singing from the same hymn sheet in trying to achieve our joint goals. I can only wish them all the very best of luck for a successful future and I am convinced that the club will go from strength to strength.”
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Steve Parish's comments
Steve Parish said: “It has been an absolute privilege and pleasure to work alongside Roy, who is both a magnificent human and an outstanding football manager. I know how much it has meant to Roy managing the club he supported as a child, adding to his distinguished and unparalleled career in football management.
“His record with us simply cannot be overstated, he is the only Palace manager to secure four years in the Premier League and he has helped give us stability in the most turbulent of times. We will be forever grateful for his immense contribution and I am delighted that we will have the opportunity to show our appreciation at Selhurst Park after the Arsenal match, alongside 6,500 supporters.
“Roy will leave us after our final Premier League match of the season with our enormous thanks for his incredible contribution to our club, and with our very best wishes for the future.”
It has also been confirmed that Assistant Manager, Ray Lewington, will also depart in the summer.
The 2021 summer brandishes the starting point of a big Crystal Palace transition phase.