It seems Roy Hodgson didn’t get around to shaking every hand he needed to on his last trip to Selhurst Park, as the former Watford head coach has been appointed Crystal Palace boss until the end of the season.

The 75-year-old former England manager replaces Patrick Vieira, who was sacked last week.

Palace are on a run of 12 games without a win in all competitions, and although they are 12th in the Premier League table they are just three points above the relegation zone.

On Sunday the Eagles were stuffed 4-1 by leaders Arsenal, although that did see them score for the first time in four games.

Hodgson oversaw one of the most dismal runs of performances and results of all time during his 18 games in charge of Watford.

The Hornets won just twice and lost 13 times. They took only one point from eight home games under Hodgson, who created fan fury with some of his odd decisions such as not using any substitutes in the 2-1 home defeat to Burnley, and putting a number of youngsters on the bench for the final two home games when relegation had been confirmed, but then not giving any of them a single minute of Premier League experience.

However, the moment that really gave Watford fans cause to be furious was when the final whistle went at Selhurst Park on May 7, 2022, and the 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace meant the Hornets would drop into the Championship.

Hodgson was seen smiling, glad-handing with Palace staff on the bench, and then hugging their players.

Having done that, he then failed to walk across the pitch to give any recognition to the travelling Watford supporters, but instead chose to make a slow and extended walk along the front of the main stand, acknowledging and waving to Palace fans.

"Unfortunately they were a bit too far away," he said when asked why he didn't go over to the Watford supporters at full time that day.

"Normally I would acknowledge the Watford fans, but they were unfortunately on the far corner and I was being dragged, if you like, towards the towards the tunnel by one or two of the Palace players.”

However, Hodgson’s results, often barbed press conference comments towards the Watford fans, and then his behaviour at Selhurt Park on the day the club were consigned to the drop all combined to leave him one of the most vilified managers of the Hornets of all time.

In the summer, when Watford chairman Scott Duxbury spoke exclusively to the Watford Observer, he addressed Hodgson’s actions after the defeat at Palace.

“Even if, as a person, your heart belongs at another club, you are still the coach of Watford. You’ve just finished a match which has seen you relegated and you ignore your own fans? No, you must go to your own fans and your own players. Words failed me,” said Duxbury.

“I’ve known Roy for many years and I was surprised and disappointed, but I suppose we must accept, if not truly understand, his explanation.”