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Crystal Palace have confirmed the departure of Roy Hodgson as head coach.

Hodgson suffered a frightening health scare at training on Thursday and has been receiving medical attention ever since.

Palace announced the news of Hodgson’s exit on Monday afternoon in a club statement, while Hodgson gave an emotional farewell to the Palace fans.

Hodgson said: ‘This club is very special and means so much to me and has played a big part in my footballing life. I have fully enjoyed my time here across six seasons, as it has given me the chance to work with top class players and staff doing what I love every day.

‘However, I understand, given recent circumstances, it may be prudent at this time for the club to plan ahead, and therefore I have taken the decision to step aside so that the club can bring forward their plans for a new manager, as intended for this summer.

Roy Hodgson has left Crystal Palace after suffering a health scare at training last week

He is expected to be replaced by former Eintracht Frankfurt manager Oliver Glasner (pictured)

Palace chairman Steve Parish confirmed Hodgson’s departure on Monday afternoon

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‘I would like to thank Steve Parish and his American partners for their support, along with my coaching staff and backroom team who have helped me so much along the way. In particular, a huge thank you to my long-term friend and assistant, Ray Lewington; coaches Dean Kiely and Paddy McCarthy; plus the excellent sports science, video analysis and medical departments.

‘My thanks and respect also to the current squad of players who have been a pleasure to work with – they are a credit to the club and themselves. I am certain that our fans will continue to give their full support to the team for the remainder of this season and beyond.

‘I am confident that the season will finish well and I wish the team every success in the weeks, months and seasons to come.’

Hodgson, 76, leaves Palace amid major supporter discontent with the club languishing in 16th and just five points above the relegation zone.

Chairman Steve Parish originally wanted to stick with Hodgson until the summer, but the veteran manager’s position at Selhurst Park had been uncertain for a number of weeks amid a run of just three wins in 19 matches in all competitions.

Hodgson then had a health scare during a Palace training session on Thursday.

The Premier League’s oldest manager suffered the worrying episode as he put his team through their paces ahead of tonight’s clash at Everton on the training pitch at the club’s Beckenham facility.

‘Unfortunately, today’s press conference will no longer take place as scheduled as Roy Hodgson was taken ill during this morning’s training session,’ read a statement on Thursday.

Players and staff were said to be visibly concerned by the incident but Hodgson is understood to have recovered.

A later statement read: ‘Following news that Roy Hodgson was taken ill during today’s training session, we can confirm that he is now stable and is currently undergoing tests in hospital.

‘Everybody at the club sends their best wishes to Roy for a speedy recovery.’

Hodgson is now expected to be replaced by highly-rated Austrian manager Oliver Glasner, although Paddy McCarthy and Ray Lewington will lead the Eagles for tonight’s clash with Everton at Goodison Park.

Steve Cooper, Julen Lopetegui and Kieran McKenna were all high on the club’s list – but Palace look set to appoint Glasner, who has previously managed in Austria and Germany.

Glasner’s last role saw him take charge of Eintracht Frankfurt. He led the club to Europa League glory in 2022, before leaving last summer after two years at the helm.

Palace have suffered a poor run of form and were beaten at home by Chelsea last Monday

Hodgson only managed seven wins in 28 games during second stint as Palace boss. Here, Jean-Philippe Mateta cuts a dejected figure following their derby defeat by Brighton earlier this month

Hodgson vowed he could have turned around Palace’s ‘bad period’ around days before his departure, but will now not get the opportunity to do so.

Hodgson’s exit comes after the mood soured among the Eagles faithful in recent weeks, with furious fans unfurling banners blaming ‘wasted potential’ and ‘weak decisions’ after the 5-0 defeat by Arsenal last month. 

Hodgson narrowly avoided being struck by a missile launched from the Selhurst Park stands earlier this year and afterwards claimed supporters had been ‘spoiled’ by the club in recent years. 

This is Palace’s longest continuous run in the top flight in their history, now on to their 11th-straight season following promotion in 2013. 

However, a talented crop of players including Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise has often looked shackled and they have slumped to 16th in the table, just five points above the drop zone. 

Fans have been vocal in their dissatisfaction with the club amid their torrid run of form

They took the lead against Chelsea last Monday night but conceded an equaliser just after the break and capitulated in stoppage time, shipping twice to surrender a point. 

Conor Gallagher scored twice against his old club to fuel the Blues’ comeback and condemn Palace to a third league defeat in four games. 

This season, Hodgson managed only seven wins in 28 games, losing 14 times.

After being re-appointed last March, Hodgson managed 38 matches, winning 12, drawing 10 and losing 16 of them for an average of just 1.21 points per game.

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