Hodgson Pledges Future to Fulham

Roy Hodgson, the Fulham manager, looks set to stay at Craven Cottage next season despite interest from bigger clubs.

The 62-year-old Hodgson has drawn plaudits for his transformation of Fulham from relegation contenders to European finalists and was named League Manager of the year this week.

He guided Fulham to a record high of seventh place last season and his success has led to speculation linking him with a move to replace Rafael Benitez at Liverpool and even as a possible successor to Fabio Capello, the England coach.

But speaking after the 2-1 Europa League defeat by Atletico Madrid in Hamburg last night, he said: “I have never given my future a moment’s thought. I have been committed all the time I have been with the club. I still have a contract and, as far as I know, this is where I shall be.”

For all the praise belatedly showered upon him, Roy Hodgson went into the first Europa League final with still a bit to prove — mainly because all his successes had been small wonders. This, despite the cruelty of the outcome, should make the difference.

Had victory been secured over Atlético Madrid, he would have been, at 62, an overnight sensation. But Hodgson had done enough in supervising Fulham’s progress to the final. Nor did a single player let him down last night. This was a high-class manager in his prime and it is inevitable that, for example, Liverpool will think about him when the time comes to replace Rafael Benítez.

They did, after all, hire Benítez after he had taken Valencia to a final of the Uefa Cup. True, Benítez had won his — Valencia beat the Marseilles of Didier Drogba — but football, too, is the art of the possible and Hodgson’s achievement this year has been one long masterclass.