Yesterday saw Fulham beat Liverpool 3-1 at Craven Cottage in the Premier League. Liverpool may be poor at the moment but it was another big scalp for the West London outfit and their underrated manager Roy Hodgson.
Much Travelled
Roy Hodgson is a highly experienced coach who has managed all over the world and has made an impact wherever he has gone.
A Winner
He has won trophies in Sweden and Denmark and helped the Swiss national side to their first major tournament in 28 years as they qualified for the 1994 World Cup.
He also helped Inter to the UEFA Cup final 1997 before joining Premier League Blackburn Rovers. Rovers was his first top flight job in his native country and he was sacked in only his second season after helping them to the UEFA Cup in his first season. In 1998 the German FA considered offering Hodgson their national team position. In the end they decided that they needed to appoint a coach from Germany.
He later moved to Denmark and won a championship with FC Copenhagen. He has also had spells as UAE and Finland national team managers. The experienced coach came close to helping Finland to Euro 2008 and only missed out in the last game of qualifying. His contract expired and he was offered fresh terms but he decided that a change was in order. He was linked with the Republic of Ireland job and was even considered as a replacement for the England job when Steve McClaren departed.
The Fulham era
He joined Fulham on 28th November 2007. The Cottagers were struggling and looked certainties for relegation from the Premier League. Everybody had Fulham dead and buried but not the wily Hodgson or his players. He instilled a belief and confidence in his players that were previously missing. They managed to take 12 points from their last five games including a last day victory which kept the club in the league. Last season the club finished in their highest ever position 7th and qualified for the Europa Cup this season. He was unfortunate not to win Manager of the Year.
Slow start this but starting to move up
This season Fulham had a slow start to the season but few at the club were questioning Hodgson’s methods. They have complete trust in the 62 year-old as he has instilled stability and confidence throughout the club. Results have improved in recent weeks and Fulham are now in midtable. His tactical nous and calm demeanour has won him many fans and not just among the fans of Fulham.
Respected within the game
He is an intelligent man who conducts himself with great dignity. He has worked with UEFA doing technical work and advising them on footballing issues. His multilingual skills have helped him fit in with everybody from players to admin staff at UEFA.
Underrated
As a manager Roy Hodgson has done a brilliant job at Fulham transforming their fortunes. They have gone from relegation strugglers to a solid midtable Premier League side. Its Hodgson tactical nous and ability to sign the right player that has help this transformation.
The signings of Mark Schwarzer on a free from Middlesbrough last summer was inspired as the Aussie had a fantastic season last season. Another player who was previously unheralded in the Premier League was Norwegian centre-back Brede Hangeland. The giant defender has became a rock in the centre of defence for the Cottagers and has played so well that a big money move to Arsenal has been mooted.
That’s the power Hodgson has he brings the best out of players and knows how to pick a player. If the rumours about Fabio Capello quiting his post as England manager after the World Cup are true then England could do a lot worse than give the Fulham boss a call.
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