Roy Hodgson has returned to football.
283 days after watching England crash out of Euro 2016 at the thunder-clapping hands of Iceland, Hodgson has landed himself a new gig.
The former Three Lions boss has been without a job since resigning in the immediate aftermath of that shock result, but he has just been signed up to take an advisory role with Melbourne City in Australia’s A-League.
The position is not a permanent one, however. Hodgson will simply spend a month working alongside the coaches and leading figures at the club so that he can impart the wisdom he gleaned throughout his 40-year coaching career.
The Guardian report that Hodgson’s long-standing friendship with City Football Group executive Brian Marwood was the catalyst behind the appointment.
“That’s why it’s so good being a part of this group, the City Football Group,” City’s caretaker manager Michael Valkanis said on Thursday. “It’s great when you get football people together. A 10-minute conversation [today] ended up being one hour. We’re so lucky to have him here … he’s a man with a wealth of experience that can help.”
The 69-year-old will watch the side’s match against Adelaide United on Friday from the stands ahead of his month-long stay.
There are not many managers more experienced than Hodgson, whose previous clubs include Liverpool, Inter Milan and Fulham while he also has extensive knowledge of international management, having taken charge of the Finland, Switzerland and United Arab Emirates national teams before his England tenure.
