Roy Hodgson is the 15th manager appointed by Watford since 2012
(Picture: PA)Roy Hodgson has completed a shock return to management after agreeing to take charge of Watford until the end of the season.
Watford have turned to Hodgson after last night sacking Claudio Ranieri, who managed just seven points from his 13 Premier League games in charge at the club.
The Hornets are currently 19th in the Premier League and they are on their third head coach of the season, after also sacking Xisco Munoz in October.
Hodgson, who is 74, will break his own record of being the oldest manager in Premier League history by taking charge at Vicarage Road.
He walked away from Crystal Palace at the end of last season, but he hinted at the time he could be lured back into management.
“I really am stepping away from football for a while, but who knows what the future will be? It is a never-say-never moment,” he said.
“I’ve seen so many people retire with all the fanfare blazing, only to surface again somewhere in a fairly short period of time. I’d prefer not to do that.
“I am looking forward to spending a little bit more time with my wife and son and maybe listening to what they want to do for once, because it hasn’t happened very much in the last 50 years.”
Former England boss Hodgson will be Watford’s 15th manager since the Pozzo family bought the club in 2012 and he is expected to bring his trusted assistant, Ray Lewington, with him.
Hodgson brings a wealth of experience to Watford and he has a strong track record of keeping sides in the Premier League, including Palace and Fulham.
He has also worked with Watford’s owners before, after taking charge of one of their other clubs, Udinese, in 2001.
Ranieri was also someone well known to the Pozzo family and they tried to hire him for Udinese around 20 years ago. Following his sacking yesterday, Watford referred to Ranieri as “a man of great integrity and honour”, adding he “will always be respected here at Vicarage Road for his efforts in leading the team with dignity”.
Ranieri, who famously guided Leicester to the Premier League title in 2016 season, managed just two wins during his time with Watford and the club are now two points adrift of safety. The defeat to relegation rivals Norwich last Friday proved the tipping point.
