Source: Liverpool_Echo
Roy Hodgson: Signing Poulsen was one of my easiest decisions
Christian Poulsen with Roy Hodgson (pic: John Powell) 300[LNB]ROY HODGSON smiles warmly as he recalls the morning Christian Poulsen breezed into his life, hoping to embark on a grand, footballing adventure.[LNB]Then manager of FC Copenhagen, Hodgson had heard rave reviews about a flaxen-haired, energetic player who had been making waves for a little club called Holbaek and wanted to take a look, so he set up a trial. Within minutes of it starting, he knew what the fuss was about.[LNB]'Signing Christian was one of the easiest decisions I have ever made,' said Hodgson. 'I remember he had to take time off work to come and do the trial; the plan was that Christian would spend a week training with us but after the first day, I told the Sporting Director to sign him.[LNB]'His talent was far, far above the standard he was playing. He made his debut against Rosenborg in a friendly as a right-back but when he got his chance in midfield, he stepped straight in and never looked back. It's been onwards and upwards since then.'[LNB] A statement with which it is impossible to argue; a year after joining FC Copenhagen, Poulsen and Hodgson were celebrating landing the Danish title; from then international recognition followed and soon a man who has now been capped 77 times would be on his travels.[LNB]He became Danish football's most expensive export when joining Schalke 04 after the 2002 World Cup, went on to have a terrific time in Spain with Sevilla - he marked his debut by helping them beat Barcelona 3-0 in the European Super Cup - before moving to Juventus.[LNB]Poulsen, clearly, had an outstanding pedigree but as he embarks on the latest chapter of his journey - one that has led to a reunion with the man who launched him on the road to the top - there is a suggestion that the 30-year-old feels he has gone back a decade.
