Roy Hodgson hails 'inspired' Leeds United move as Crystal Palace boss awaits first meeting with Marcelo Bielsa

ROY HODGSON has hailed Leeds United's "inspired" move to hire Marcelo Bielsa whom the Crystal Palace boss will finally meet for the first time in Saturday's Premier League clash at Selhurst Park.
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Hodgson and Bielsa will lock horns as the two oldest and most experienced managers in the Premier League with Hodgson eight years Bielsa's senior at 73 years old.

The duo have never met despite the pair's vast experience in management both internationally and at club level but Hodgson is looking forward to that changing in south London on Saturday afternoon.

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"Obviously Marcelo is a man who has had a lot of success since coming to Leeds and I think it was an inspired decision to take him on as manager," said Hodgson at his pre-match press conference.

RESPECT: For Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa from Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson, above. Photo by Adrian Dennis - Pool/Getty Images.RESPECT: For Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa from Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson, above. Photo by Adrian Dennis - Pool/Getty Images.
RESPECT: For Leeds United head coach Marcelo Bielsa from Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson, above. Photo by Adrian Dennis - Pool/Getty Images.

"He has got them back into the Premiership, something which so many people have tried and not been able to do and now of course he has started extremely well in the Premiership.

"His team has played some outstandingly good games.

"I have never met him unfortunately, of course I have always known about him but I look forward to meeting him tomorrow.

"He's a person for whom I have much respect for and I'm impressed by the type of football that Leeds are playing."

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Thank you Laura Collins

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