Roy Hodgson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Roy Hodgson
CBE

Hodgson in 2014
Personal information
Date of birth	(1947-08-09) 9 August 1947 (age 77)
Place of birth	Croydon, England
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Playing position	Left-back
Youth career
1963–1965	Crystal Palace
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1965–1966	Crystal Palace	0	(0)
1966–1969	Tonbridge Angels
1969–1971	Gravesend & Northfleet	59	(1)
1971–1972	Maidstone United
1972–1973	Ashford Town (Kent)
1973–1974	Berea Park
1974–1976	Carshalton Athletic
Teams managed
1976–1980	Halmstad
1982	Bristol City
1982	Oddevold
1983–1984	Örebro
1985–1989	Malmö
1990–1992	Neuchâtel Xamax
1992–1995	Switzerland
1995–1997	Inter Milan
1997–1998	Blackburn Rovers
1999	Inter Milan (caretaker)
1999–2000	Grasshoppers
2000–2001	Copenhagen
2001	Udinese
2002–2004	United Arab Emirates
2004–2005	Viking
2006–2007	Finland
2007–2010	Fulham
2010–2011	Liverpool
2011–2012	West Bromwich Albion
2012–2016	England
2013	England U21 (caretaker)
2017–2021	Crystal Palace
2022	Watford
2023–2024	Crystal Palace
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Roy Hodgson CBE (born 9 August 1947) is an English football manager and former player. He recently managed the Premier League club Crystal Palace.

Roy Hodgson has managed 22 different teams in eight countries. His career started in Sweden with Halmstad in 1976. He led the Switzerland national team to the last 16 of the 1994 World Cup. They also qualified for Euro 1996, which was a big achievement for Switzerland. From 2006 to 2007, he managed the Finland national team. He helped them reach their highest-ever FIFA ranking of 33rd place. He was also the manager of the England national team from 2012 to 2016.

Hodgson has worked as a football expert on TV in many countries. He speaks five languages, which is very helpful for working with different teams.

Roy Hodgson's Early Life

Roy Hodgson was born in Croydon, England. His mother was a baker, and his father was a bus driver. Roy grew up with Steve Kember, who was also a schoolmate. They played football together at John Ruskin Grammar School. Another important person in his life, Bob Houghton, joined the school later. Bob would play a big part in Roy's coaching career.

Roy Hodgson's Playing Career

Roy Hodgson played football for Crystal Palace when he was young. However, he never played for their main team. After leaving Crystal Palace, he played for several non-league clubs. These included Tonbridge and Gravesend & Northfleet. At 23, he earned his full coaching badge. He then joined Maidstone United. There, he played and was also an assistant manager to Bob Houghton.

Becoming a Coach: From Teacher to Manager

In 1972, Roy Hodgson finished a teacher training course. He studied physical education at Avery Hill College. He said he chose this path because he loved football. He hoped it would help him work professionally in the sport. He taught at Alleyn's School in London for a short time.

After Maidstone, he played for Ashford Town. He also worked as a PE teacher. In 1973, he moved to South Africa to play for Berea Park. He returned to England in 1974 to play for Carshalton Athletic. During this time, he continued to teach at Monks Hill Comprehensive.

Roy Hodgson's Managerial Journey

Starting in Sweden: Halmstad's Success

Roy Hodgson began his managing career in 1976. He joined Allsvenskan side Halmstad in Sweden. His friend Bob Houghton suggested him for the job. Hodgson stayed at Halmstad for five years. He led them to win the league championship in 1976 and 1979. The 1976 win was a huge surprise in Swedish football history. Halmstad had almost been relegated the year before. Hodgson called it his "water-into-wine" achievement.

Brief Time at Bristol City

In 1980, Hodgson moved back to England. He became assistant manager at Bristol City. He then became manager from January to April 1982. The club had money problems, so he was not very successful. He was dismissed after only four months. He later said it was a "disaster" because players had to leave.

Back to Sweden: Oddevold and Örebro

In 1982, Hodgson returned to Sweden. He took over second-tier team Oddevold. He couldn't save them from being relegated. In 1983, he moved to Örebro, another Division 2 team. In his first year, Örebro finished third. The next year, they finished first but lost in the play-offs. This meant they missed out on promotion to the top league.

Malmö's Golden Era with Hodgson

Hodgson in 1987

In 1985, Hodgson became manager of Malmö. He led them to win five league championships in a row. They also won two Swedish championships and two Swedish Cups. His team often played in European competitions. In 1989, Malmö even knocked out Inter Milan from the 1989–90 European Cup. Malmö fans still love Hodgson. They even unofficially named a part of their stadium "Roy's Hörna" (Roy's Corner).

How Hodgson Changed Swedish Football

Roy Hodgson and his friend Bob Houghton worked together in Sweden. They are known for changing how football was played there. They introduced a new way of defending called zonal marking. Before them, Swedish teams often used a sweeper and man-marking. Hodgson and Houghton's teams pressed hard and used a high offside line. They also attacked quickly with long passes. They were called "English Roy" and "English Bob" in Sweden.

Managing in Switzerland: Neuchâtel Xamax

After Malmö, Hodgson moved to Swiss club Neuchâtel Xamax in 1990. In his first season, Xamax finished third in the league. The next season, they finished second. In Europe, he led Xamax to beat Celtic. They even beat Real Madrid 1–0 at home.

Leading the Switzerland National Team

Hodgson became the manager of the Switzerland national team in 1992. Switzerland had not played in a major tournament since 1966. Hodgson led them to the 1994 World Cup. They lost only one game during qualification. This helped them rise to third in the FIFA World Rankings.

At the World Cup in the USA, Switzerland finished second in their group. They drew with the USA and beat Romania 4–1. They reached the Round of 16 but lost to Spain. Hodgson also helped Switzerland qualify for Euro 1996. He left the team in 1995 to join Inter Milan. He managed both teams for a short time.

Managing Inter Milan

Before Euro 1996, Hodgson joined Italian club Inter Milan. He managed them from 1995 to 1997. Inter had not been doing well before he arrived. Hodgson helped them finish seventh in 1996. This meant they qualified for the UEFA Cup.

In the 1996–97 season, Inter finished third in the league. Hodgson led them to the 1997 UEFA Cup Final. They played against Schalke 04. Inter lost the final on penalties. This was his last match in charge of Inter Milan. He then left to manage Blackburn Rovers. Inter's president, Massimo Moratti, praised Hodgson. He said Hodgson "saved us at the right time."

Time at Blackburn Rovers

Hodgson joined Blackburn Rovers in 1997. In his first season, Blackburn finished sixth in the Premier League. They qualified for the UEFA Cup. Hodgson was named Premier League Manager of the Month twice. However, the team's form dropped in the second half of the season.

His second season with Blackburn was not as good. Many players were injured, and there were problems in the team. Blackburn had a bad start to the season. Hodgson was dismissed on 21 November 1998. Blackburn was at the bottom of the league table.

Return to Inter and Grasshoppers

In 1999, Hodgson returned to Inter Milan as a technical director. He also had a short time as caretaker manager. Then, he went back to Switzerland to coach Grasshoppers for a season. He led them to a fourth-place finish. In 2000, he agreed to join Copenhagen.

Success in Denmark and Italy: Copenhagen and Udinese

Hodgson moved to Denmark in 2000 to manage Copenhagen. He was an instant success. He led the team to win the Superliga championship in 2001. This was the club's first championship since 1993. His team also won the 2001 Danish Supercup.

In 2001, he left Copenhagen for Italian club Udinese. He was fired in December 2001 after less than six months. The club was in ninth place at the time.

Managing the United Arab Emirates

Hodgson became manager of the United Arab Emirates in April 2002. He managed both the main team and the Olympic team. He helped them qualify for the 2004 Asian Cup. He was dismissed in January 2004. Hodgson later said it was hard work because the players were "basically lazy."

Viking in Norway

In July 2004, Hodgson moved to Norwegian club Viking. The club finished ninth in his first season. They also qualified for the 2005–06 UEFA Cup. In the UEFA Cup, Viking reached the group stage. They even beat Monaco 1–0. In the 2005 Premier League, Viking finished fifth. Hodgson resigned in December 2005.

Leading the Finland National Team

Hodgson started working with the Finland national team in January 2006. Finland had never qualified for a major tournament. They almost qualified for UEFA Euro 2008. Their qualification campaign started well, winning three and drawing two of their first five matches. They finished fourth in their group, just three points away from qualifying.

Hodgson was praised for making Finland a well-organised team. However, they were criticised for not scoring enough goals. Five of their 14 qualification games ended in 0–0 draws. Hodgson's contract ended in November 2007. He decided not to extend it.

Fulham's European Adventure

Hodgson as manager of Fulham in 2009

On 28 December 2007, Hodgson became manager of Premier League team Fulham. The club was struggling, in 18th place. Hodgson made several new signings in January. These included Brede Hangeland, who became a key player. Fulham had a very poor start under Hodgson. However, they earned 12 points from their last five games. This included a 3–2 win over Manchester City. Fulham avoided relegation on the final day of the season.

Hodgson in 2009

For the 2008–09 season, Hodgson made more important signings. These included goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer and midfielder Zoltán Gera. He led Fulham to seventh place in the Premier League. This was the club's highest-ever finish. It also meant they qualified for the new UEFA Europa League. Hodgson received much praise for his work at Fulham. His reputation in England greatly improved.

In the Europa League, Fulham had an amazing run. They beat Basel, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Wolfsburg. The victory against Juventus was especially memorable. Fulham lost 3–1 away, then went 4–1 down at home. But they came back to win 5–4 on aggregate! On 29 April 2010, Hodgson guided Fulham to their first major European final. They beat Hamburg in the semi-final. In the final, Fulham played Atlético Madrid. The game went to extra time, and Atlético Madrid won 2–1.

Hodgson in 2009

In May 2010, Hodgson was voted the LMA Manager of the Year. This award is given by other football coaches.

Managing Liverpool

On 1 July 2010, Hodgson was appointed manager of Liverpool. He signed a three-year contract. His first competitive game was a 2–0 away win in the Europa League. His first league win was against West Bromwich Albion.

Liverpool had some poor results, including being knocked out of the League Cup by a lower-league team. Hodgson faced criticism. He left the club by mutual agreement on 8 January 2011.

West Bromwich Albion's Revival

Hodgson became head coach of West Bromwich Albion on 11 February 2011. The team was struggling and close to the relegation zone. Hodgson helped West Brom win five and draw five of their remaining games. This included a 2–1 win against Liverpool. West Brom finished 11th in the league, their highest finish in 30 years.

In the 2011–12 season, Hodgson's team continued to perform well. Despite injuries, they stayed away from the relegation zone. They had a strong run of results in the final part of the season. This included a 5–1 win over rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers. They also beat Liverpool again, this time at Anfield.

Leading the England National Team

Becoming England Manager

On 1 May 2012, the Football Association chose Roy Hodgson to be the manager of England. He signed a four-year contract. He officially started on 14 May.

Euro 2012 Performance

Hodgson managing England at Euro 2012

Before Euro 2012, Hodgson made some tough decisions about the squad. In his first game, England beat Norway 1–0. This was England's first win against Norway in 32 years. His second game was a 1–0 win over Belgium at Wembley Stadium.

At Euro 2012, England drew 1–1 with France. They then beat Sweden 3–2 in an exciting game. Wayne Rooney scored as England beat Ukraine 1–0. England won their group, which was a good result. In the quarter-finals, England drew 0–0 with Italy. They lost 4–2 on penalties. Even though they lost, Hodgson's team was praised for being well-organised. Under Hodgson, England reached third place in the FIFA World Rankings.

2014 World Cup Qualification

England started their World Cup qualification well. They beat Moldova 5–0. They also drew 1–1 with Ukraine. In a friendly game, England beat Brazil 2–1. This was their first win against Brazil in 23 years. England then beat San Marino 8–0. This was England's biggest win since 1987.

On 15 October 2013, England beat Poland 2–0. This meant they qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil without losing a game. Hodgson said it was his proudest moment in football.

2014 World Cup Disappointment

On 12 May 2014, Hodgson announced his squad for the World Cup. He said he believed the squad could win the tournament. However, England lost to Italy 2–1 in their first match. They then lost to Uruguay 2–1. After Costa Rica beat Italy, England was out of the World Cup. This was the first time England was eliminated at the group stage since 1958. England finished their campaign with a 0–0 draw against Costa Rica. They finished last in their group.

Euro 2016 Campaign

Hodgson named Wayne Rooney as the new England captain in August 2014. England started their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a 2–0 win against Switzerland. They won all ten of their qualifying matches. This was a perfect record. Hodgson was praised for bringing in young players and making the team more attacking.

At the Euro 2016 tournament, England finished second in their group. They drew 0–0 with Slovakia. On 27 June, England were knocked out by Iceland in the round of 16. Hodgson's contract as manager ended after this. He faced criticism for the team's performance and his decisions.

Crystal Palace: A Return Home

On 12 September 2017, Hodgson became manager of his boyhood club Crystal Palace. He signed a two-year contract. Palace had lost their first four league games without scoring. Despite losing his first three games, Hodgson led Crystal Palace to safety. They finished eleventh in the league. No team had ever survived relegation after losing their first seven games.

In the 2018–19 season, Crystal Palace equalled their best-ever Premier League points total. Hodgson also became the oldest person to manage in the Premier League. He was 71 years and 198 days old. In March 2020, he signed a contract extension. On 18 May 2021, Hodgson announced he would leave at the end of the season. He helped Palace stay in the league.

Watford Challenge

On 25 January 2022, Hodgson returned to the Premier League. He was appointed manager of Watford. Watford was in 19th place. He signed a contract until the end of the 2021–22 season. In May 2022, Hodgson said he would not stay at the club. Watford was relegated at the end of that season.

Second Return to Crystal Palace

On 21 March 2023, Hodgson returned to Crystal Palace again. He managed them until the end of the 2022–23 season. His first game back was a 2–1 win over Leicester City. This ended Palace's 13-match winless run. Hodgson kept the club safe from relegation. They finished eleventh in the league.

On 3 July 2023, Hodgson agreed to stay for the next season. On 12 February 2024, he managed his 200th game for the club. Crystal Palace lost 3–1 to Chelsea. On 15 February, Hodgson became unwell during training. The club confirmed on 19 February that he had stepped down as manager.

Roy Hodgson's Personal Life

Roy Hodgson is married to Sheila. They have a son named Christopher. They live in Chelsea, London. Hodgson enjoys reading books by authors like Sebastian Faulks and Philip Roth. He is very good with languages. Besides English, he speaks fluent Swedish, German, Italian, and French.

In 2012, Hodgson was made a Knight, First Class, of the Order of the Lion of Finland. He received an honorary doctorate from the University of York in 2016. In 2018, he was made a Freeman of the Borough of Croydon. In 2022, he was made a Commander of the Order of British Empire (CBE). He received his medal from Prince William, Duke of Cambridge. He said it was the "ultimate accolade" to be recognised by his country.

Roy Hodgson's Coaching Style

Roy Hodgson is known for his simple and solid coaching style. He often used the 4–4–2 formation. When he coached in Sweden, he used a zonal marking defence. His teams pressed hard and used the offside trap. They also counter-attacked quickly with long passes. Hodgson believed his methods helped change football in Sweden.

Managerial Statistics

Roy Hodgson's Honours and Awards

Roy Hodgson has received many awards for his work in football. He was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2022. This is a special award from the UK for his services to football.

He also received an honorary doctorate from the University of Greenwich in 2019.

Managerial Trophies

Halmstad

• Allsvenskan: 1976, 1979

Örebro

• Division 2 Norra: 1984

Malmö

• Swedish Champion: 1986, 1988
• Allsvenskan: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989
• Swedish Cup: 1985–86, 1988–89

Neuchâtel Xamax

• Swiss Super Cup: 1990

Inter Milan

• UEFA Cup runner-up: 1996–97

Copenhagen

• Danish Superliga: 2000–01
• Danish Super Cup: 2001

Fulham

• UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2009–10

Individual Awards

• LMA Manager of the Year: 2010
• Premier League Manager of the Month: August 1997, December 1997, October 2009, February 2010
• London Football Awards Manager of the Year: 2018
• LMA John Duncan Award: 2024

Images for kids

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  Hodgson in 2014

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  Hodgson in 1987

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  Hodgson as manager of Fulham in 2009

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  Hodgson in 2009

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  Hodgson in 2009

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  Hodgson managing England at Euro 2012

See also

In Spanish: Roy Hodgson para niños