Hodgson: 299 Premier League games later

In 1982, Roy Hodgson was 34-years-old, held two Swedish league titles with once relegation-favourites Halmstad and found himself in the third tier of English football, coaching on rugby-esque pitches with Bristol City fast plummeting into liquidation.

Hodgson’s time in the West Country would be his only managing in England for the next 15 years.

By 1997, Roy Hodgson was 49-years-old, held four further honours with three new clubs and found himself joining former Premier League champions Blackburn Rovers. Hodgson would coach on fairway-esque pitches in “fantastic training facilities” and kick-start a career in the English top-flight which, on Saturday against Chelsea, will have covered 300…