Hodgson's reaction speaks volumes about Rooney's future after Birmingham sack
Roy Hodgson is tipping Wayne Rooney to bounce back from his Birmingham City sacking and the Crystal Palace manager insists it is too early to judge England's "Golden Generation" as managers.
Rooney was dismissed by Brum following a dismal run of two wins in 15 matches. But Crystal Palace gaffer Hodgson, who worked with Rooney for four years when in charge of England, believes he is a victim of football's demands for instant results.
"I know him well, worked with him for four years. He's got an outstanding football brain and was a magnificent footballer," Hodgson said. "He's an icon of English football and one always hopes that when an icon of English football gets a chance to step up, in the Championship, he'll get a chance to really show what he can do.
"I can only agree with him - the amount of time he was given to show his abilities and qualities was a short one and it's the world we live in at the minute.
"Wayne understands and accepts that, like we all do. I'm sad that it happened but I know he will bounce back. I read he will take a little break from the game. That's an intelligent thing to do.
Frank Lampard spotted for first time since Everton sacking with wife Christine
"There's no doubt that Wayne Rooney will always be on people's lips and minds when it comes to future jobs. He really does understand football. He's proved that as a player - he was very thoughtful and astute tactically."
Hodgson also baulked at a suggestion that England's team of the Noughties have failed in management so far, pointing to the sackings of Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa and Frank Lampard at Chelsea and Everton as premature.
"It's a question of the climate people work in these days," he added. "Sometimes the bigger name players are given a chance at a top club or a club in an elevated position. I'm thinking in particular of Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard more than Wayne. They get that chance. Unfortunately, the way the climate is these days, the judgment comes very very quickly and is quite severe.
Roy Hodgson spent four years managing Wayne Rooney with England (Dave Shopland/REX/Shutterstock)"They will be welcomed into a club because of their name and they will be expected to suddenly take over a team that hasn't been doing brilliantly and make it fly. That's an unrealistic demand. They all have to say they didn't really get a good chance. No one gave them two years, didn't give them three transfer windows, a chance.
"The myth is quite often proliferated that a manager has a magic wand, he can wave it and a team doing badly can start doing well because he is there. Sometimes it works, great. But it's by no means a certainty. At the moment I don't want to cast aspersions on any of them and their ability to be good managers.
"If I was to be philosophical, I might say these experiences might even help along the way. Somewhere along the way, you'll have experiences where there are real blows in this game.
"If they've suffered their blows early and survived them, I believe they will come back even stronger because all three of them - and other players from that group when they step into the breach - I'm convinced have the qualities as coaches, managers and leaders to succeed."
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