Roy Hodgson backs Stale Solbakken for Wolves

Stale Solbakken's shock appointment as the new Wolves boss is today given an enthusiastic seal of approval by England manager Roy Hodgson.

The two men were manager and captain 12 years ago when they led FC Copenhagen to the club's first championship for eight years in Denmark.

They have remained firm friends ever since and Hodgson admitted he was both delighted and impressed by Molineux's decision to give the 44-year-old Solbakken his chance in English football.

"I'm delighted because he is a good friend but also because I think it is an excellent appointment," said Hodgson. "And I think it is a good, exciting move by Wolves. It's not an appointment many would have expected from a part of Europe from which English clubs do not usually recruit.

"But I can tell Wolves fans they have hired a superb coach – Stale is a bright, young and impressive coach with good ideas and I am confident he will do well."

Hodgson's ringing endorsement is not without significance, of course, as it was his Albion team's heavy destruction of Wolves at Molineux which triggered the rush of events which brought the club to yesterday's announcement.

The sacking of Mick McCarthy followed the Baggies 5-1 derby defeat but the appointment of Terry Connor as interim manager has failed to yield a single victory in 12 games and brought an inevitable relegation.

Hodgson was planning to speak to Solbakken amid a busy final weekend as Albion's Head Coach, the pair having become close when Hodgson took charge at Copenhagen in 2000.

They formed an effective partnership and that campaign finished with the club champions for the first time since 1993 but Solbakken's playing career ended by a heart defect discovered when he collapsed in training.

"When something like that happens, it naturally brings you closer together and since then Stale and I have been good friends," he said.

See also:

• Stale Solbakken named shock new Wolves manager

• Wolves fans react to Stale Solbakken appointment

• Steve Morgan in Wolves transfer ‘treasure chest’ pledge