Five Of The Best: Hodgson’s Hornets

Nearly half a century of management has seen new Watford manager Roy Hodgson oversee a vast array of talent from around the world, from Patrick van Aanholt to Javier Zanetti.

Here are five former Watford players who have played under the Englishman at different clubs throughout his career…

Familiar to the new manager and his assistant, creative winger Hameur Bouazza was handed his debut in English football by Ray Lewington when the former Watford boss was at the helm in 2003, and later played for the Hornets in the Premier League.

The French-born Algeria international made over 100 appearances in yellow before a move to Fulham in August 2007, and Hodgson arrived Thameside that December.

Watford academy graduate Ashley Young didn’t play under Hodgson at club level, but made a rather significant contribution to the manager’s reign as England manager in 2012.

Back in Norway where he had previously worked at Viking seven years earlier, Hodgson was eager to get off to a winning start with the Three Lions in a Euro 2012 warm-up. Young’s goal made sure that would be the case, cutting onto his less-favoured left foot on the edge of the box and slotting into the far corner to put England ahead and ultimately win the match.

Former Watford centre-back Martin Taylor wouldn’t play for the Hornets until the latter stages of his career, but it was at the very start that the defender crossed paths with the current manager at Vicarage Road.

With Hodgson a new arrival in the hotseat from Inter Milan, the Englishman helped Blackburn Rovers qualify for the UEFA Cup. In their clash with Olympique Lyonnais, Hodgson brought on an 18-year-old Taylor with the scores level in the 80th minute. Taylor helped to keep Blackburn defensively solid in the closing stages, as well as offering an aerial threat going forward.

Aged 30, Taylor joined Watford in 2010 and spent two-and-a-half years in Hertfordshire, starting every game of the 2010/11 campaign.

Current Hornets midfielder Tom Cleverley caught Hodgson’s eye during his loan spell at Vicarage Road in the 2006/07 season, but this is the first time the 32-year-old has played under the new manager at club level.

Impressing for Hodgson’s England in 2012 after his performances at the London Olympics, the former Three Lions’ boss was full of praise for Cleverley following a win over Ukraine.

“Tom Cleverley did what we expected him to do. Throughout the game it was an extremely disciplined and professional performance,” said Hodgson of the-then 23-year-old to the press post-match.

“I knew him when he was at Watford but I suppose the Olympics was the opportunity for me, really, to cast the rule over him.”

Unlike Cleverley, Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster has worked with Hodgson at both club and international level in his career so far.

The shot-stopper was signed for West Bromwich Albion by Hodgson in 2011, and was also convinced to come out of international retirement to represent England at the 2014 World Cup.

“Roy is fantastic and is a people’s person,” said Foster upon receiving his call-up in 2014. “He gets footballers. We are not just machines and have a personal life with our family.”

Then 31, Foster wasn’t first choice in Brazil but was given his tournament debut in the final group game against Costa Rica, where he kept a clean sheet in a 0-0 draw.