What has Hodgson achieved?

The following story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club:

Roy Hodgson's managerial career spans nearly 35 years and involves stints at no fewer than 12 top flight European clubs and three international jobs.

The 62-year-old has won the Swedish and Danish league titles, reached two European finals and taken Switzerland to their first World Cup finals in 28 years.

Hodgson is a highly respected figure in the global football community and has enhanced his reputation since he took over at Fulham in December 2007.

When he arrived the Cottagers were slumped in the relegation zone but he transformed their fortunes and they stayed up on the final day.

In 2008/09 he guided Fulham to seventh place in the Premier League - their highest ever finish - and last season they reached the first major European final in their history. A remarkable run saw them knockout holders Shakhtar, Juventus and Hamburg on their way to the Europa League final where they lost 2-1 to Atletico Madrid. However, in the league they only won once away and ended up 12th.

Hodgson was voted the LMA Manager of the Year and won widespread praise for his achievements on a limited budget.

The Croydon-born boss' journey to the top flight began with an undistinguished playing career in non-league football.

After moving into coaching, he landed his first job aged 28 at Swedish outfit Halmstads in 1976. Tipped for relegation, Hodgson led them to the title in his first season and repeated the trick in 1979.

"My greatest achievement would have to be that water into wine job," he said.

In 1980 he returned to England to become assistant manager at Bristol City and two years later he took over at the helm. However, with the club in financial trouble he struggled to make an impact and in 1983 went back to Sweden. After a spell at Orebro he moved to Malmo where he enjoyed five trophy-filled years. They won two Swedish Cups and finished top of the league five years in a row, although the play-off system meant he was only credited with two titles.

Keen to broaden his horizons, he moved to Switzerland to manage Neuchatel Xamax in 1990 and two years later took over as boss of the national team. The Swiss were beaten just once on their way to qualifying for their first World Cup since 1966 and reached the last 16 before losing to Spain.

Hodgson also led them to Euro '96, but quit before the tournament to take over at Inter Milan where the highlight was leading them to the 1997 UEFA Cup final where they lost on penalties to Schalke.

Hodgson finally got a crack at the Premier League when Blackburn came calling. But after a solid start at Blackburn it went swiftly downhill. Poor buys, injuries and dressing room unrest contributed to Rovers being bottom and in December 1998 Hodgson was sacked.

A brief second stint at Inter as caretaker boss followed in 1999 before returning to Switzerland to manage Grasshopper. Hodgson moved on to Denmark and in 2001 won the title with Copenhagen before Udinese offered him a return to Serie A but he was fired after just six months.

Spells with the United Arab Emirates and Norwegian outfit Viking followed before he took the Finland job in 2005. They failed to qualify for Euro 2008 but he had done enough to convince Fulham to take a chance on him.

This story has been reproduced from today's media. It does not necessarily represent the position of Liverpool Football Club.