* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
It’s been a stellar career at the top level for Roy Hodgson but all good things must come to an end. The 73-year-old has been on the touchline for 45 years, starting at Halmstad and going on a remarkable journey which took in everything from four international jobs through to Liverpool, Inter Milan, Fulham and that Iceland game.
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He’s not confirmed that he’s retiring from football completely, but Hodgson has indicated that he’s looking for a quieter life than what the management game offers these days. So, with the grand old man of English football leaving his boyhood club, who he joined way back in 1963, will Palace go for younger blood or an experienced head to guide them through what looks set to be a transitional season in 2021/22?
Sean Dyche
A steady hand at the tiller, Burnley boss Sean Dyche could be tempted to swap the mill town pleasures of Burnley for the bright lights of South London. He’s had a bit of a fractious relationship with the Clarets’ board of late but he has been focusing his efforts at raising his dad-banter profile in press conferences which seems to be going really well.
Patrick Vieira
Midfield colossus Patrick Vieira has struggled to convert his dominance on the pitch into the dugout. The Arsenal great has had spells at New York City FC and most recently Nice in Ligue 1. This has danger written all over it for Palace, unless he’s coming in as a player manager.
Steve Cooper
Swansea gaffer Steve Cooper, who watched his side lose the 2021 Championship playoff recently, seems to be linked with a number of positions in the Premier League and his previous experience of working with the Three Lions youth teams could set him in good stead to do well in one of English football’s hotbeds of talent south of the river in the capital. He could be the perfect candidate to oversee the revolution needed at Selhurst Park.
Lucien Favre
Swiss boss Lucien Favre is looking for work after getting the boot at Borussia Dortmund in 2020. He failed to get the best out of their galaxy of wonderkids. There’ll be no such problems with Palace’s creaking squad, but given the potential turnover this summer the real issue might be getting 11 players on the pitch.
Frank Lampard
Former Derby and Chelsea boss Frank Lampard features prominently in the betting to succeed Hodgson. After getting the boot at Stamford Bridge this might be a tricky job for Lampard and his long-term career prospects. If he takes the Palace hot seat and it goes badly it could prove terminal for his long-term top tier management prospects. Still, at least he’s not going to be able to squander £200m worth of talent at Palace.
Nuno Esprito Santo
Nuno Esprito Santo left Wolves on the final day of the season after a four-year stint at Molineux. The Portuguese is a highly regarded manager and plays some decent stuff at times. Could Nuno take his fine beard to south London?
Eddie Howe
Will someone just give Eddie Howe a job? The ex-Bournemouth boss is still doing the rounds on many a next manager market on PP.com and shows no signs of removing himself from them anytime soon. Howe has been connected to more jobs than your average LinkedIn user with about as much success in getting one as well.
Alan Pardew
Surely nothing would life the post-Covid blues than the sight of Alan Pardew shimmying down the Selhurst Park touchline once again. An image that would unreliably signal a much-needed return to normality.
Neil Warnock
Would Palace fancy a like-for-like replacement? If so then they need look no further than Middlesbrough boss Neil Warnock. Another gem of the English management game, Warnock would surely be tempted into one last one-last job in the Premier League and a third stint in charge of the club.
* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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