Klopp has shared his admiration of Hodgson in the wake of his departure from Crystal Palace. The Eagles have confirmed Hodgson has stepped down from his role as manager following a recent health scare that saw him taken to hospital. Hodgson is now back home and “doing well” but has been replaced at Selhurst Park by former Eintracht Frankfurt manager Oliver Glasner.
WHAT JURGEN KLOPP SAID
Klopp told a press conference: “I think I said a couple of times I don’t really understand why he is still doing the job! With my situation he’ll probably understand a bit better, but I don’t understand what he is doing! One of the greatest I ever met, definitely, for that long time in the business [he is a] human full of experience. [He] trend-set in the beginning; he kept his idea. It’s always like this when it’s not going well. That’s the problem in our business then people forget a little bit how good the times were before. I think Crystal Palace could be like that if there were some supporters who were shouting for him to get the sack. They definitely forgot how good a job he did in the few times when he was there.
“I hope he is doing well. I hope because that obviously was a shock last week when I heard about that he was taken ill in training. That’s nothing that should happen at all. I hope he is doing well and when he is doing well then I wish him just the very best of times that he can have and stay healthy. That would be the most important but it’s a bit of a shame that I couldn’t say properly goodbye to him because we faced each other quite frequently and like each other a lot. But, yeah, that’s not the biggest problem.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Hodgson’s managerial career spans 48 years and has seen him take charge of 17 club sides and four international teams, including England.
WHAT NEXT FOR LIVERPOOL AND PALACE
Glasner is set to take charge of Palace for the first time on Saturday against Burnley as he bids to guide his new team away from the relegation zone. As for Liverpool, the club are looking at potential replacements for Klopp, with the German boss having already backed former midfielder Xabi Alonso to replace him in the Anfield hotseat.