VICTOR MATURE
Oldest Prem boss ever ‘still driven’ to be a winner says Palace stalwart Dann
ROY Hodgson is still hungry for success, despite becoming the Premier League’s granddaddy.
Hodgson has eclipsed Sir Bobby Robson’s record as the Premier League’s oldest manager at 71 years, 193 days, and counting.
The former England boss has been coaching for a phenomenal 43 years since starting out with Swedish side Halmstads in 1976.
Yet Crystal Palace defender Scott Dann insists his ambition is undimmed.
For all his success abroad, Hodgson has never won a major trophy in England and Dann says he would love to lift the FA Cup after leading Palace into the quarter-finals.
“He’s done a great job since he came into the club,” said Dann. “He might be the oldest manager but he is still driven. Every competition he plays in, he wants to win. Every round we’re fielding a strong side.
“We’ve played against lowerleague opposition a couple of times now and fielded strong sides. Every time we play in this competition he is pushing for us to get through.
“Hopefully we can go further.” Dann is one of the survivors from Palace’s heartbreaking 2016 FA Cup final defeat by Manchester United when the Eagles went within nine minutes of glory. The former Blackburn and Birmingham centrehalf is desperate to make up for that misery by going all the way.
“There’s a bitter taste when you lose a final,” he said. “It’s not easy to get to that stage. But it gives you that taste to want to get there again. There is a chance to get there again.”
While Premier League survival remains Palace’s priority – they are 13th but only three points above the drop zone – Dann (above) says the players are excited to be just one game away from Wembley.
“You get through those first few rounds and you start to see you’re getting close to Wembley,” he said.
“We’re just a game away from Wembley now.
“We should be looking when we get further down the line in these competitions to go as far as we can, especially after reaching the final a couple of years ago.”