Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace exit announced with final game at Liverpool

Roy Hodgson's Crystal Palace exit has been confirmed.

The former England manager, who will be 74 in August, will step down at Selhurst Park this summer, following four years at the helm.

A Palace statement confirmed that this Sunday's Premier League season finale against Liverpool – one of Hodgson's former clubs – at Anfield, would be his last game in charge.

It said: "Roy Hodgson will leave his role as manager of Crystal Palace at the end of this season.

"Hodgson’s final match in charge of the Eagles will be at Anfield against Liverpool on Sunday, his 162nd competitive match in the Palace dugout.

"He became manager of his boyhood club in September 2017, and under his stewardship, the club has maintained its Premier League status on four consecutive occasions."

Hodgson remains undecided on whether he will return to management in the future – but it almost certainly won't be in the Premier League.

He admitted: “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.

“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.

“I have had so much support from my wife and family throughout my career and I have been contemplating this decision for some time, and now I believe the time is right to consider them and to see what the future holds for me.

“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 assistant Ray Lewington will also be leaving the club.

Chairman 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.”

Parish has a difficult summer ahead, both looking to recruit a new boss – Sean Dyche and Frank Lampard are both potential candidates, while also replenishing an ageing squad, with 13 players out of contract at the end of the campaign.

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