When Roy Hodgson said “yes” to the FA, he thought his job was to win soccer games. Nobody told him that he would be expected to defend and redeem the country as well.
But those are Hodgson’s orders, now that a giant statue of his likeness stands atop the famed White Cliffs of Dover. On Thursday, the 100-foot-tall structure was unveiled on England’s southern coast.
Built by betting company Paddy Power, the statue is called “Roy the Redeemer.” It is a replica of the iconic “Christ the Redeemer” statue that overlooks the Brazilian metropolis Rio de Janeiro. The pose is the same, but Hodgson’s face adorns the body with out-stretched arms. It took one week to install, and it weighs eight tons.
Hodgson’s reign begins in earnest on Monday, when England meets France in its opening game of the 2012 European Championship. Ironically (or intentionally), it can be seen from France’s north coast.
Watch the unveling of the “Roy the Redeemer” statue in the video below.
Thumbnail photo via Twitter/@AAllenSport
