By Tam McManus

26th Mar, 2023 | 6:56am

Pundit delivers 'brilliant' Roy Hodgson claim after Crystal Palace deal agreed

Roy Hodgson’s return to management is ‘brilliant’ for English football as he ‘still has the hunger’ to win at Crystal Palace.

That is the opinion of former Hibernian striker Tam McManus, who spoke exclusively to Football Insider about the 75-year-old’s Premier League return this week.

After slumping to 12th in the table with no wins in their last 12 games, Crystal Palace decided to sack Patrick Vieira and replace him with former Eagles boss Hodgson.

The 75-year-old has been managing for 47 years, with his first managerial stint coming at Swedish club Halmstads BK in 1976.

Hodgson previously enjoyed a four-year stint at Selhurst Park between 2017 and 2021.

Palace agreed a deal with Hodgson on Tuesday (21 March) to take charge of the club until the end of the season.

McManus is delighted to see Hodgson back in management, describing him as a “great character” in English football.

“It’s brilliant news,” McManus told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.

“At 75 years old, he just won’t quit.

“Fair play to him still being involved, he still has the hunger and desire to win.

“He will know a lot of the players, he signed some of them himself at Crystal Palace, and he’ll know how to get the best out of them.

“Even at his age, Hodgson still looks fit and active and he still clearly feels he can do a job in the Premier League.

“I think he’ll be joining on a short-term basis to stop this Palace free fall and keep them clear of relegation.

“He’s so full of experience and he’s a great character – I hope he does well and keeps them up. It’s a remarkable deal, really, and bad news for the likes of Southampton”.

In other news, Kieran Maguire: Crystal Palace land ‘huge benefits’ from FA rule change