Roy Hodgson Named Bristol City Interim Manager

Roy Hodgson returned to Bristol City as interim manager on Friday, marking a surprise comeback for the 78-year-old veteran after more than two years out of the game. The appointment, which fills the vacancy left by Gerhard Struber's dismissal after nine months in charge, covers the Championship club's final seven matches of the season. Hodgson, who first managed the Robins in 1982, steps in 44 years later, the longest gap between stints with the same club in Football League history.

The move came amid Bristol City's mid-table position, sitting 16th in the Championship and safely 12 points clear of relegation while 12 points behind the playoffs. Struber had guided the team to the playoffs the previous season but oversaw a winless run in their last six games across all competitions, prompting the board to seek stability for the run-in. Hodgson was contacted out of the blue by Richard Scudamore, the former Premier League chief executive and a lifelong Bristol City supporter who joined the board last October. Scudamore initially sought Hodgson's advice before discussions with club CEO Charlie Boss led to the interim role.

Hodgson, who left Crystal Palace in February 2024 following a...