Ex-England boss Hodgson, 78, takes over at Bristol City as Struber sacked

Ashton Gate has turned to one of English football’s most enduring figures after Roy Hodgson, 78, was installed as interim head coach following the dismissal of Gerhard Struber and assistant Bernd Eibler.

The Championship club, winless in six matches and 16th in the table, nine points outside the play-off positions with seven fixtures remaining, acted swiftly after a run they admit “has not met expectations”.

Hodgson’s appointment marks a remarkable return to Bristol City 44 years after a brief, ill-fated spell in 1982 when the Robins were his first English employers. The former England, Liverpool and Crystal Palace manager, whose last managerial role ended at Selhurst Park in February 2024, will meet the squad on Monday before taking charge of the Easter Friday visit of Charlton, live on Sky Sports.

“I have had great conversations with the board and I am really excited by the opportunity to help until the end of the season,” Hodgson said. “We will get straight to work and look for a positive performance on Good Friday.”

Chief executive Charlie Boss, appointed only last month, framed the move as part of a wider reset: “Roy’s appointment is about more than the results of the next seven games. He will support me, our players and our football staff as we build towards achieving our potential.”

Hodgson becomes the oldest head coach in the Championship, 20 years senior to the next-oldest, Sheffield United’s Chris Wilder and Wrexham’s Phil Parkinson, and 15 years ahead of the previous EFL record holders, Swindon’s Ian Holloway and Bristol Rovers’ Steve Evans. Everton’s David Moyes, the Premier League’s eldest manager, is 16 years his junior.

Struber’s exit comes after a January transfer policy that saw top scorer Anis Mehmeti and centre-back Zak Vyner leave on expiring contracts, a decision that undermined a squad sitting just outside the top six. A subsequent 1-9 points return from nine matches, culminating in fan frustration and public criticism from the Austrian, prompted Boss to wield the axe.

The club is simultaneously recruiting a sporting director who will lead the search for a permanent successor to Struber, leaving Hodgson tasked with steadying the ship over the final seven games of the campaign.