A coaching icon is calling it quits: Here’s what his associates are saying about Roy Hodgson’s career

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Hodgson’s career is a success story. This includes several chapters he wrote in Switzerland. One of them qualified for the 1994 World Cup with Switzerland. Blick asked some of his companions. And for everyone he is fondly remembered not only as a coach, but also as a person.

“Roy Hodgson is a man of class. I have a lot of respect for him and his career. Football was not for him. It’s his passion. I wish him health and more time for his other interests such as literature and theater. I have always loved his style as a coach and person and I can’t say that about all coaches. I first came into contact with Hodgson at Xamax. I was playing for the reserves when he came into the dressing room after one of our games. First he congratulated us on our victory. Then he pointed at me and explained that I would be playing in the first team from tomorrow. Finally, he made me debut as a Xamax coach in his last game. In the UEFA Cup against Real Madrid – in Madrid! A huge gift. Under him I learned to defend in a back four. At that time we were used to playing with a libero. I remember training sessions of two and a half to three hours with many tactical exercises. Later I made my debut in the national team under him. And it was he who led me from Hamburg to Blackburn. This allowed me to play in England, which was also a dream of mine. Finally, I have a very special memory: in October 1995 we went golfing in the Dolder for a European Championship qualifier against Hungary in the Hardturm, his last national team match before moving to Inter. I made a hole-in-one. He took the ball out of the hole, gave it to me and told me to keep it in a good place. I have kept this ball to this day.”

«Become strong through simple things. That’s what Roy Hodgson represents to me. It’s its undisputed quality. And it’s something I learned from him. When he came to Nati from Xamax, he was very hungry. He insisted on his exercises. Discipline and order were very important to him. And the success proved him right. Just qualifying for the 1994 World Cup, in this difficult group with Italy, Portugal and Scotland, was quite a task. Then we even reached the round of 16 in America. That was a huge experience. Later I saw Hodgson at Inter. But in Milan it was not so easy for him. The presidents always had his back. But the environment made it difficult for him. That was incomprehensible to me. For me, Hodgson will be remembered as a great gentleman.”

«The time with Roy Hodgson in the rankings was a very intensive time, but unfortunately not successful. I can still remember his farewell. After a 2-0 defeat against Lucerne it was not certain whether he would lead the training. And then he actually said goodbye to us players on the tram that took us to our training ground. He is unique. A cheerful person who enjoys every minute of his life. He masters the ability to switch from trainer to private individual. During training he could really swear, but afterwards he was a gentleman. When I think of him, several anecdotes come to mind. That’s what he always called me Triple-B on the field. At one point I wanted to know why. He replied that I was his Big Bad Boris. Since he left Zurich, I have never had any personal contact with him. I hope he can now enjoy life as much as he would without football.”

Super League 23/24

		team	SP	T.D	PT
	1	BSC Young Boys	24	29	51
	2	Napkin FC	24	13	44
	3	FC Zurich	24	12	39
	4	FC St. Gallen	24	6	37
	5	FC Lugano	24	4	34
	6	FC Lucerne	24	-3	34
	7	FC Winterthur	24	-5	33
	8th	Yverdon Sports FC	24	-16	30
	9	Grasshopper Club Zurich	24	0	28
	10	FC Basel	24	-8th	28
	11	FC Lausanne Sport	24	-6	25
	12	FC Stade Lausanne Ouchy	24	-26	15