Eagles appoint Hodgson as De Boer successor

Crystal Palace have confirmed the appointment of Roy Hodgson as their new manager in place of the sacked Frank de Boer.

The Croydon-born Hodgson will be returning to the club with whom he began his playing career in 1965.

Hodgson told the club’s official website: “It is very rewarding to find myself here now, in different times, as the Palace manager at a club that I have always loved and admired with a huge potential.

“The ambitions here are realistic and there is an enormous potential for growth and I hope we can achieve our goals.”

Hodgson, 70, had emerged as the clear front-runner for the Palace role even before the 1-0 defeat at Burnley on Sunday which sealed De Boer’s fate, the Dutchman departing just 77 days into a three-year contract.

Palace are the first team in England’s top division to lose their opening four games without scoring a goal since Preston 93 years ago.

It is also Hodgson’s first role since his ignominious departure from the England job after their shock Euro 2016 defeat to Iceland.

Palace are Hodgson’s fifth Premier League club of his managerial career, after Blackburn, Fulham, Liverpool and West Brom.

He will make his bow as Eagles boss in Saturday’s league clash with Southampton at Selhurst Park.