Roy Hodgson has taken on his first new role since leaving Bristol City at the end of last season, joining UEFA's Technical Observer Group. The 79-year-old, whose 50-year coaching career spans eight countries, took over at the Championship side in March 2026.
Return to Football
Arriving with the team struggling in 16th place, he steered the Robins to a 12th-place finish before stepping down in May. In his new post analysing top-tier European football, the former Crystal Palace boss links up with a panel that includes Arne Slot, Erik ten Hag, Thomas Frank, Roberto Martinez, Rafael Benitez and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
UEFA explains the group will evaluate the Champions League, Europa League and Conference League using "stats and video assistance, enabling them to deliver detailed reports on the latest developments in coaching, which are shared among the footballing community to give a dynamic account of the state of the game."
UEFA's Statement
On Hodgson's appointment, the organisation stated: "One of the most experienced Technical Observers, Hodgson has managed a total of 22 different teams in eight countries, including four national sides: Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, Finland and England. The well-travelled veteran, who speaks five languages, last season returned to Bristol City to help them avoid relegation."
Hodgson had stepped away from full-time management following his second stint at the helm of Palace, yet made a return to the touchline on a temporary basis earlier this year. He revealed that while he had been enjoying retirement, the chance to demonstrate he could still cope with the demands of management proved impossible to resist.
Hodgson on His Future
Speaking to BBC Radio Bristol, he said: "I was relatively happily retired before this came along. It just probably showed there are opportunities sometimes that come your way that maybe seem a little bit left field and you wonder, 'Am I really capable of taking this on?' And I proved to myself I am. There's no doubt about that."
He cast doubt on whether he would wish to take on another head coaching role, adding: "Any fears I might have had that, 'Well, you're too old for this now, you can't get out on the field with the players, you can't do the coaching and manage the team in the way you always did.' No, that's not true, I can do."
"On the other hand, whether I want to put myself in this position again and offer myself up for that type of employment, that's another question altogether. Because I am the age I am and I've had the career I've had, which I'm very pleased with and very satisfied with, it's given me so much."
