- Roy Hodgson hails Ex-Crystal Palace winger Michael Olise
- Compares the Frenchman to Wayne Rooney
- Reflects on Selhurst Park reigns
Former Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has recently stepped back into management, at the age of 78, taking charge of Bristol City for their remaining Championship fixtures.
His recent return has increased his media presence, and Hodgson has had some big claims to share on former Palace starlet Michael Olise, amongst other things.
Hodgson said on BBC Sport’s The Wayne Rooney Show podcast:
“Olise is certainly up there with Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerard amongst the best players I’ve ever worked with.”
These comments, whilst gratifying for Palace fans to hear, will not come as a surprise; after all, many consider him to be the most technically gifted player to ever wear the shirt.
Olise Always Destined For Greatness
The Frenchman has had an incredible trajectory since departing Selhurst Park, and his numbers over the last three seasons better those of most players in his position.
Ninety goal contributions across one campaign at Palace and two in Munich, Olise is fully in contention to win the Ballon d’Or in December, should he continue this form. With France favourites to win the World Cup, and Bayern Munich’s domestic dominance and European prowess, he has the chance to become the first-ever Ballon d’Or winner to have played for the South London club.
With Mohamed Salah confirming his departure from Liverpool this Summer, Olise has been placed atop their wishlist, but Bayern’s president, Uli Hoeneß, has claimed that “even a €200 million offer would not convince Bayern to sell the right-winger.”
Hodgson’s praise extended beyond just Olise, though:
“Marc Guéhi is up there – and then there’s Eberechi Eze, he’s up there too... You’re pretty lucky if you come to a club and you’ve got those three. That is half a chance that.”
Of course, all three players have now departed Selhurst Park after Eze’s summer move to Arsenal and Guéhi’s January swap to Manchester City, Palace seeing a combined return in the region of £124 million on their original £44 million investment on the trio, with potential for that return to increase further with the sell-on clause inserted into the deal to sell Olise in the Summer of 2024.
Hodgson Recalls Palace Stint
Reminiscing on his re-appointment in 2023, where Hodgson steered Palace clear of the relegation zone once again, he smiled as he spoke on the level of talent that he was gifted at Palace.
However, there was some trepidation regarding the recent spending spree the club have undergone, and a feeling of frustration that he was never backed in the same way during his two spells at the club.
“I accepted in the five years I spent at Crystal Palace that there wasn’t money to spend. We weren’t going to buy many players, if we did produce one, as we did with Aaron Wan-Bissaka, he’s not going to stay, he’s going to be plucked away.”
He added:
“They have spent about £150 million quite recently, on making the squad bigger – we never had that luxury – and what amazes me to some extent is that you look at the bench, and four or five of the players who have cost a lot of money, that’s where they are.”
The new investment over the summer has clearly loosened the purse strings at Palace, and listening to Hodgson’s comments, it felt he was almost wishing he’d had the same support.
Nonetheless, the smile on his face when discussing his time at Palace would make any fan grin. He is a true football legend who gave everything to the club he loves.
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