Roy Hodgson has stepped down as manager of Crystal Palace after health concerns and a run of poor results, to "bring forward the club's plans to appoint a new manager".
The nomadic career of Hodgson spans over 48 years where he has managed 18 teams and four international nations. On Thursday he was taken ill at the club's training ground amid rising speculation over his future, after a run of 10 losses Palace's last 16 games.
He was absent early in the season with health concerns, missing Palace's 3-1 loss to Aston Villa in September and there has been a growing feeling that Hodgson might have undertaken a season too far.
Crystal Palace have endured a miserable run recently, winning just three games since September and after heavy defeats to rivals Brighton and Chelsea the Eagles sit just five points above the relegation zone.
The fans had become tiresome at a lack of creativity and ambition by the club in recent weeks and there was a growing dissatisfaction with Hodgson's decision-making such as subbing off Eberechi Eze in the 64th minute of their FA Cup fourth round replay against Everton.
Similarly, fans were frustrated at the veterans handling of star player Michael Olise who was rushed back from injury in the 4-1 defeat to Brighton at half-time only to last 10 minutes and be forced off with a recurring problem.
Nevertheless, Hodgson will be eternally cherished at his boyhood club Crystal Palace, last season he salvaged the club from the depths of relegation after Patrick Vieria was sacked and he has managed 200 games over his two spells at the South Londoners.
After he stepped down Chairman Steve Paris paid tribute to the manager claiming "Roy has the keys to Selhurst Park", "we owe our continued Premier League status, to Roy".
Crystal Palace announced today that Hodgson is in a "good condition" following his release from hospital.
He said:
"I have fully enjoyed my time here across six seasons, as it has given me the chance to work with top class players and staff doing what I love everyday"
An urbane and gracious soul, who was a true professional he started off his cosmopolitan managerial career in 1976 at Swedish side Halmstad and travelled across Scandinavia in his early days managing Oddevold, Orebo and Malmo where he won the Danish League title.
After success domestically in Switzerland, he embarked on his first international position as Swiss national team head coach and lead them to the Round of 16 at the US World Cup in 1994.
He went on to manage the United Arab Emirates and Finland, before being appointed as England head coach in 2012 following his overachievements at West Bromwich Albion.
Hodgson was regarded as the sensible and safe option following the sacking of Fabio Capello, and he was unable to end England's trophy drought overseeing three tournaments between 2012 and 2016.
Most notably, his England side finished last in the 'group of death' at the Brazil World Cup in 2014 before a national embarrassment at Euro 2016 crashing out in the Round of 16 to tournament debutants Iceland.
He has been a manager who has seized opportunity at the top echelons of football, such as his seven month stint at Liverpool and with England but succumbed to limitation to be successful.
At Fulham he was adored by the fans, taking the Cottagers away from a relegation battle to reaching the UEFA Europa League final the following season eventually losing to Atletico Madrid.
He has always been reneowned as an measured and gracious individual, who wherever he has managed received the upmost respect from fans for his dedication and application.
When he arrived at Crystal Palace he replaced Frank De Boer in September 2017, following five consecutive losses and brought stability and continuity to the club for four consecutive seasons.
When he departed in 2020 it felt the fans wanted more, to be taken to the next level but after Patrick Vieria failed it was the steady hands of Hodgson they came back to to be rescued.
Crystal Palace have appointed former Eintracht Frankfurt manager Oliver Glasner to replace Hodgson, and in Mondays clash with Everton it will be Lewington and McCarthy who lead the team on an interim basis.
Written by Lewis Eadie
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