Roy Hodgson (new Fulham manager)

[NeilMcD]

Hodgson leaves Finland for Inter Milan
(Adds details, quotes, byline, changes slug)
by Sakari Suoninen
HELSINKI, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Roy Hodgson quit his role in charge of the Finland national team to take up a job working alongside Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti, the British coach said on Friday.
Hodgson, who twice coached the Serie A side in separate spells in the 1990s, said he had not ruled out the possibility of taking another post with a national team.
"If a national team wanted to have me they would have to be a) very quick and b) persuade the president to get rid of me before he even takes me on," Hodgson told a news conference.
He said he would start at Inter in January.
Finland, who have never reached for a major soccer finals, finished a close fourth behind qualifiers Portugal and Poland in Euro 2008 qualifying Group A.
"We would have liked to keep Roy as the coach, he has done a fantastic job," said football association president Pekka Hamalainen, adding that Hodgson would help choose a successor.
An Inter Milan spokeswoman said the club had no information on Hodgson rejoining the club but Italian media reports in recent months said the Englishman was in the frame for an upstairs role at the San Siro.
Coach Roberto Mancini led the side to a runaway title success last season and they are three points clear in Serie A this term.
President Massimo Moratti may feel he needs Hodgson to help with signing players and other background work.
Hodgson first coached Inter between 1995 and 1997 and then left the club again in 1999 after a short second stint in charge. (Additional reporting by Mark Meadows in Milan; editing by Miles Evans)

[Noelys Guitar]

Ahhh that old trick by Venables, have lunch with a journalist and pretend to receive a call from the FAI.

I can imagine journo grabbing phone from Venners and instead of JD on the line hears the speaking clock.

[Noelys Guitar]

Hodgson leaves Finland for Inter Milan
(Adds details, quotes, byline, changes slug)
by Sakari Suoninen
HELSINKI, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Roy Hodgson quit his role in charge of the Finland national team to take up a job working alongside Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti, the British coach said on Friday.
Hodgson, who twice coached the Serie A side in separate spells in the 1990s, said he had not ruled out the possibility of taking another post with a national team.
"If a national team wanted to have me they would have to be a) very quick and b) persuade the president to get rid of me before he even takes me on," Hodgson told a news conference.
He said he would start at Inter in January.
Finland, who have never reached for a major soccer finals, finished a close fourth behind qualifiers Portugal and Poland in Euro 2008 qualifying Group A.
"We would have liked to keep Roy as the coach, he has done a fantastic job," said football association president Pekka Hamalainen, adding that Hodgson would help choose a successor.
An Inter Milan spokeswoman said the club had no information on Hodgson rejoining the club but Italian media reports in recent months said the Englishman was in the frame for an upstairs role at the San Siro.
Coach Roberto Mancini led the side to a runaway title success last season and they are three points clear in Serie A this term.
President Massimo Moratti may feel he needs Hodgson to help with signing players and other background work.
Hodgson first coached Inter between 1995 and 1997 and then left the club again in 1999 after a short second stint in charge. (Additional reporting by Mark Meadows in Milan; editing by Miles Evans)

Wisely keeping his options open. Know we know why Hodgson has no agent. Clever man.

[EalingGreen]

Ahhh that old trick by Venables, have lunch with a journalist and pretend to receive a call from the FAI.

So TV stages his phoney phone call for the benefit of some journo, who dutifully goes off and reports it in his paper.

How do you think that is going to impress the FAI when they get to hear of it? You know, the people who were reported to have made the call, but didn't?

First people pile into El Tel because he's past it as a coach.

Then they pile in because he's a cute hooer.

Now you're accusing him of being a stupid hooer.

I could accept Stephen Ireland trying to pull a stunt like that, even poor Stan "You tell me" Staunton. But Venables?

[kingdom hoop]

Good man Ealing Green. Always amusing.

[Fergie's Son]

I agree with EG. Venables isn't that thick. He's many things but stupid isn't one of them.

I'd be ok with Hodgson.

[geysir]

What's a hooer?

[kingdom hoop]

Surely Neil was havin a laugh there? (that's why I laughed at EG's comments anyway)

Apologies to all concerned if my joke detector over-reacted on this occasion. Wouldn't be the first time. Damn thing is giving me awful trouble of late.

[irishfan86]

What's a hooer?

Ask yer ma

[onenilgameover]

He will be.


By England and Scotland.

Our boys are currently on the pish in stringfellows planning the best way to announce a clear and honest selection process that will result in the announcement of Venables as new Irish manager.

ha ha ha...more or less spot on I love it...

[jmurphyc]

Irish Times mentioned Hodgson today. Hopefully the FAI will look his name up on Wikipedia.

http://www.ireland.com/sports/soccer...375074340.html

[Armando]

I can't take anymore of this!!!

Hodgson was just on the phone there with Sky Sports News reporter and he more or less issued a come and get me plea regarding the Ireland job!

He was asked his plans and said at the moment he is taking up an assistants role to Moratti at Inter in January.

Presenter then asked him does that rule out any managerial roles, for example would he take the Ireland job?

His response was he didn't want to say if he would or wouldn't take it but if they wanted to talk and let him know what was expected of the job he would meet with them.

This is a HUGE development. He came on the phone off his own bat, he is quite obviously desperate to continue managing and will only take the role with Inter if nothing else comes up.

If the FAI don't approach him now then I will never pay for another ticket ever again

[Newryrep]

Lawrenson just dismissed Hodgson on the 'Last word' due to his failure to qualify for the euro's (did he miss hear him and thought he said Steve Mclaren ?///-unbelieveable, Matt Cooper never took it any further about the group they were in or his international record, the mainstream media are a joke and think the whole bloody world revolves around the the English premiership,

Don Howe as a selector ? i didnt even know he was alive until his name was mentioned a few days ago.

We are stuck with a farce of a selection process, a cupable media and TV as a manager who will bankruppt us as we appear to be begging for him to manage us - ****** off big time

[backstothewall]

Not to mention the fact Givens played for Venables at QPR and Howe worked with him with England. I smell a rat

[eekers]

they're gonna be talking about hodgson in depth tonight on offtheball on newstalk. asking people to text in what they thing of him as manager

[tetsujin1979]

Hodgson hints at interest in Ireland job: http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...933768,00.html

I've know idea what that job (Ireland) would entail. If they were interested in me they would have to contact me and explain what they would expect of me

For fcuks sake, someone get his number, track down the Dons and tattoo it to their wrists, so they've no excuse for losing it!

[Stuttgart88]

Lawrenson just dismissed Hodgson on the 'Last word' due to his failure to qualify for the euro's (did he miss hear him and thought he said Steve Mclaren ?///-unbelieveable, Matt Cooper never took it any further about the group they were in or his international record, the mainstream media are a joke and think the whole bloody world revolves around the the English premiership,

Yet Lawrenson supported Venables in Monday's Times based on very little other than something like "players like him".

Missing out by a point in a group with Poland and Portugal. Fair enough if Hodgson was managing England, but it was Finland FFS. We could only have dreamt of their points haul in that group.

God, this whole thing would drive you to tears. And people complain about Dunphy's presentational style. I'd be banging my fist, raising my voice and just about everything if this was the quality of debate being carried out.

Please let me wake up from this nightmare.

If this process is being carried out as we all expect it is then we're being sold an absolute pup by the FAI and their carry on is dishonest if not downright corrupt.

[Stuttgart88]

they're gonna be talking about hodgson in depth tonight on offtheball on newstalk. asking people to text in what they thing of him as manager

Was anything said other than Lawrenson's daft dismissal?

[eekers]

Was anything said other than Lawrenson's daft dismissal?

didnt go im depth at all

read out a text about his lost 4 in 32 record

then mcdevitt was shocked at this and asked why arent we getting this guy. then they talked about him going to inter

[geysir]

Hodgson is the Elephant in the corner of the FAI offices.

Maybe there has been bit of money on Hodgson, he´s now at 10/1
and even after the naming of the rubber stamp pawns, Venables has drifted out to 4/6.