'英 shock' 79-year-old veteran Baek 'surprise' returns as a professional director → "I was fired 44 years ago?" "The greatest comeback ever."

*This content was translated by AI.

Roy Hodgson (79), a living proof of English football, took the helm of his former team Bristol City for the first time in 43 years and 344 days. The return of the veteran, who seemed to be taking steps to retire after leaving Crystal Palace in February 2024, is stirring all over the UK.

"Coach Hodgson has returned to Bristol City to replace Gerhard Struber," the British newspaper BBC said on the 27th (Korea time), adding, "This is one of the most surprising events in English football this season."

British multiple media, including "The Guardian" and "BBC," noted the unusual move of 79-year-old Hodgson to leave his 50-year-old coaching career behind and choose to become a professional stage director again instead of a comfortable retirement.

It's a record return. Hodgson was reappointed as head coach of the same team exactly 43 years and 344 days after being replaced by Bristol City in 1982. Coach Hodgson will play the role of a firefighter for his home team, which has fallen to 16th place in the English Championship (second division) for the remaining seven games this season.

Recently, the European soccer community has been amazed by the return of old players to the field. Martin O'Neill (74) is leading Celtic's race to win the championship, while Neil Warnock (77) has also recently been a short-term firefighter at Torquay United. On top of that, even Harry Redknapp (79), the head coach, expressed his intention to return to Tottenham Hotspur.

Hodgson is known as England's national veteran. During his tenure in Liverpool in 2010, he was humiliated for the first time in seven months and took the helm of the England national team at the 2014 Brazil World Cup.

In response to the veteran head coach's return to the field, 'BBC' said, "Hodgson's career should not be judged by just a few failures," adding, "Hodgson is a legendary figure who won five consecutive league championships in Malmö, Sweden." He also led the Swiss national team to the round of 16 at the 1994 U.S. World Cup. "Coach Hodgson's achievements in leading Inter Milan to the 1997 UEFA Cup final prove why he is still respected in football," he said.

Bristol City are currently down to 16th place, contrary to expectations at the beginning of the season when they were aiming for a promotion play-off. At the height of the supporters' dissatisfaction, CEO Charlie Boss judged that Hodgson's rich experience was the best card to stabilize the team.

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*This content was translated by AI.