Who is the one footballer Roy Hodgson actively dislikes? England manager reveals all to York audience

Back of the net… Roy Hodgson receives his honorary degree at York University. Photographs: Anna Gowthorpe / PA Wire

England manager Roy Hodgson revealed a few secrets to an audience in York after receiving an honorary degree in the city.

The football boss told 150 York University students who his sporting heroes were – and the one man in the game he actively disliked.

Roy began his lecture on Leadership In Sport asking: “What is a leader?

“Do you have to be extrovert? Do you have to be out-going?

“We tend to equate leadership with a show – ‘Get the camera on me’. But you don’t necessarily need to be that leader.

“You may be surprised what people like. I know one thing they’ll like: if you’re a team member.”

What is a leader? Do you have to be extrovert? Do you have to be out-going?

‘Lucky I wasn’t a teacher’

Roy Hodgson talks to York University students inside Alcuin College. Photograph: Jack Gevertz

The one hour event, which also included a short questions and answers session, was opened by university registrar and secretary David Duncan, who thanked Hodgson for coming.

Most of the students in the room listening were avid followers of football or were a member of a sport society at the university.

Roy had come to speak at the lecture after receiving his honorary degree from York University, to mark his 40 year career in football management.

He told those in the room that they didn’t “stand a chance” in getting one until they had “won a few things”.

Speaking about being receiving his honorary degree, he added: “I’ve always been rather jealous of my son. He’s got a BA and a masters.

It is your passion, your knowledge and your desire which will lift you above the crowd

“I’ve always been a bit jealous because I walk into his flat and he’s got them on the wall.

“But I’ve always had a great interest in education. I was lucky that I was saved from the teaching profession by the coaching profession which I much prefer.

“But probably I would have been a teacher otherwise because I would have been qualified to be so.”

On being a good student, he said:

It is your passion, your knowledge and your desire which will lift you above the crowd and put you in a good position.

The more you meet with other people, discuss with other people, continue on your course, continue educating yourself, the more it will be to your advantage.

Roy’s England Record

Took over May 14, 2012
Games 47
Won 28
Drawn 13
Lost 6

Win % 59.57

Roy’s heroes – and villain

Luis Suárez, the Spanish footballer also known as Luisito. Photograph © Wikipedia

York University Student Union’s sport president Grace Clarke asked him who his idols were.

“First was Johnny McIlroy from Crystal Palace. Then Johnny Byrne, who was also Crystal Palace [not to be confused with York City great John Byrne]. And then George Eastham from Newcastle United.”

The one man he wasn’t so keen on? Luis Suàrez. No, not the modern Uruguayan international who likes to bite people, but a Spanish player and manager from the Sixties and Seventies.

“The one person I didn’t idolise but had a lot of time for but was really disappointed with was Luis Suarez – he was a famous player of Barcelona during the 1960s.

“He was part of the Inter Milan team which won everything.

“These guys were legends really.

“And when I got to interview him, he was coaching. You can meet your heroes sometimes and be disappointed.

“He’s the only one I’ve met who I’ve taken an active disliking to.”