Roy Hodgson and Ralph Hasenhuttl head the Crystal Palace next manager shortlist

Scott Allen
17 March 2023

Roy Hodgson could make another return to top-flight management with Crystal Palace, after the south London club sacked Patrick Vieira after one win in 14 Premier League games on Friday morning.

Poor old Hodgson, just when he'd thought hung up his manager's sheepskin and settled down for a nice cup of tea in front of a crackling fire, the phone rings and it's Crystal Palace on the lookout for a saviour.

Several bookies have installed Hodgson as evens favourite to return to Selhurst Park and lead them away from a relegation dogfight. Palace must have forgotten Watford tried that last year and now they find themselves in the Championship.

Hodgson is well respected at Palace having led them out of trouble before and established them as a mid-table Premier League regular, but surely a return is a step too far.

The majority of the other bookies appear to be siding with former Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl (9/1), who was binned by the Saints last November with the club in the relegation zone.

All the other old stagers make up the bookies shortlist, with Rafa Benitez at 10s to manage his fifth Premier League club after leaving Everton in January 2022, while former Leeds boss Jesse Marsch is anything between 7/1 and 14/1.

Former Borussia Dortmund and Nice manager Lucien Favre has floated back to near the top of another manager's market at 9/1, but with no Premier League experience the 65-year-old might seem like a bit of a wild swing.

Then there's former Wolves and Spurs boss Nuno Espirito Santo, who must have a deal with all bookies to be in the top five of any vacant managerial jobs.

Our old friend Sam Allardyce rocks up next at 20/1, which will no doubt thrill the Crystal Palace faithful. Although he did save the Eagles from relegation in the penultimate game of the 2016/17 season.