Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has spoken of his time with Inter Milan.

Hodgson made the move to Inter 15 years ago.

He told the Coaches' Voice: “I was still the Switzerland manager when I came home one afternoon to a message on the telephone from Giacinto Facchetti of Inter Milan. It was a very brief message. 'I am Giacinto Facchetti – can you call me?'

“I'd met him a couple of times when I was with Malmo, and we had played Inter Milan in the European Cup. 'I wonder what that's about?' I said to my wife.

“When I called him back, he explained that Massimo Moratti was looking for a new coach and that they had identified me as someone they would like. So a meeting was set up.

“On the day of the meeting, there was also a big game between Basel and Grasshoppers at St Jakob Park. The plan was that I would go to the game and then drive directly from there to Milan overnight. I would then meet Massimo Moratti the following day.

“It took longer than I expected to get away from the stadium, of course, and then the tunnel that leads from Basel was closed. Instead, I had to go over the pass – which, with it starting to snow, was a really bad experience.

“I also had to stop close to Bellinzona when I got over the pass. This was in the early hours of the same day I was supposed be meeting Moratti in the centre of Milan. That I was eventually asked to take the job seemed pretty much written in the stars."