Roy Hodgson and the 15 Most Grandfatherly Managers in World Football

Yes, the Premier League is over for the season.

I know—I can’t really believe it either.

But at least we football fans have the European Championships this summer to look forward to.

In the spirit of English football, the Euros and the fact that Roy Hodgson will be announcing his tournament squad of 23 this week, let’s look no further than a topic that draws heated debates every week:

Who are the 15 most grandfatherly managers in world football?

Read on to find out.

Roy Hodgson

Let's start with our main man, Roy Hodgson.

Not only is he well-mannered, but he apparently is well-read and holds a variety of interests outside football.

Pity he’s quite one-dimensional in his interviews.

Fabio Capello

His predecessor in the England hot seat is on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Fabio Capello would make quite a stern granddad.

He even missed his son’s wedding for an England game.

Walter Smith

Then we go north of England and hit Scotland, where Walter Smith is surely one of the iconic elder statesmen of Scottish football.

He’s had such a long career at the top, it wouldn’t be a surprise if some of his players are young enough to be his grandchildren.

Kenny Dalglish

Then there is Kenny Dalglish, who, for all of his defensiveness in front of the cameras, is apparently extremely down-to-earth and affable.

No surprise he’s made so many friends over the course of his career then.

Craig Brown

At 71, Craig Brown is the oldest manager in British football.

Some of his players at Aberdeen are definitely young enough to be his grandchildren.

Jupp Heynckes

Now we look toward the continent, where we find the grandfather of all stern grandfathers in Bayern Munich’s Jupp Heynckes.

I’ll take a stern granddad any day if he can take me to the Champions League final.

Bert Van Marwijk

But a cool granddad can take me to the World Cup final, as Bert van Marwijk has done with his Netherlands team.

Vicente Del Bosque

And this granddad can win the World Cup outright (Spain).

Luiz Felipe Scolari

So can this granddad (Brazil).

And if Phil Scolari’s time at Chelsea showed anything, it’s that Scolari has a decent sense of humor as well.

Marcello Lippi

This granddad can win the World Cup (Italy) and look good while doing it.

Not sure how you can top that, really.

Thomas Schaaf

Thomas Schaaf has been at Werder Bremen for so long (30 years), he’s probably the granddaddy of all “them good ol’ days” reminiscences.

Ottmar Hitzfeld

Now let’s celebrate grandfather-eligible candidates who also make fantastic club coaches.

Ottmar Hitzfeld may be known as a strict disciplinarian, but he makes things happen.

Giovanni Trapattoni

So does Giovanni Trapattoni.

Now here’s a granddad for whom “winning” would be an apt description.

How many granddads can you say that for?

Luis Aragones

Luis Aragones might not be a football manager at this moment, but his demeanor (and age) automatically qualifies him for this list.

Also, his racially tinged outburst at Thierry Henry is a throwback to the good old days where political correctness wasn’t as high on the agenda.

Dario Gradi

And last but not least, the granddaddy (I know I’ve exhausted this joke) of all long-serving managers.

Dario Gradi might not be the outright manager at Crewe anymore, but his record as manager, stature at the club and current role as academy director makes him probably the most important man in the club’s history.

His record with his youth development also shows that he’d make a heck of a granddad too.

Thanks for reading, and be sure to check out my writer’s profile, where you can find more of my (usually more serious) work. If you’re interested in my musings on all things Liverpool, please also check out my blog, The Red Armchair.