New Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has said he never felt old enough to resign as he kicks off his second spell in charge of the club this weekend.
The 75-year-old already holds the record for the oldest person to manage a game in the English top flight from his time at Watford.
Hodgson will break that record when Palace welcome Leicester City to Selhurst Park on Saturday. He will keep extending that record with subsequent games.
At his press conference, Hodgson said (via talkSPORT): “I had accepted that I had retired because that is what everyone was saying.
“When I walk down the street, people say to me, ‘are you enjoying your retirement?’
“But at the same time, I have never really felt old enough to retire.
“I know my birth certificate tells me I am, but the way I feel does not tell me that. There has always been an opening for a project such as this one, where I know what the objective is.
“But I don’t actively seek them. On both occasions (Watford and Crystal Palace), it has come my way.”
The game against the Foxes is crucial for the Eagles. Palace are just three points above the relegation zone and on a 12-game winless run.
They sacked Patrick Vieira despite finishing 12th in the Premier League last season. The club has been in rotten form since the turn of the year despite sitting in the same position.
Palace brought in Hodgson to take charge temporarily, with former under-21s boss Paddy McCarthy assisting him.
Hodgson kept Palace in the Premier League for four years and will fancy his chances of repeating the feat this season.
