Did Roy Hodgson really speak to Olivia Rodrigo? Ex-England manager opens up on encounter with American pop star at Wimbledon

In a now widely shared image, Hodgson was seen sitting just ahead of pop star Rodrigo, who was attending the tournament with her actor boyfriend, Louis Partridge. Their unexpected proximity at the event quickly ignited a flurry of reactions online, blending two very different fan bases in a moment of crossover culture.

The former England, Crystal Palace, and Liverpool manager was in high spirits during his Wimbledon visit, catching up with fellow sports personalities and enjoying the atmosphere. Among those in conversation with Hodgson was current Three Lions boss Thomas Tuchel, as the two were spotted exchanging thoughts.

In an interview with Hajper, Hodgson reflected on his time at the iconic venue, noting, "I sat at the table with Tommy Fleetwood and with Richard Thompson, who is the chairman of the ECB. I talked to those at some length and to other people I came across during the time there."

Despite his self-professed unfamiliarity with today’s music scene, Hodgson revealed that he was at least aware of Rodrigo by name.

"I've got to say that I don't know much about Glastonbury and the stars," he said. "But I know Olivia Rodrigo's name and of course I knew Dave Grohl's name, but I didn't have any real conversation with them."

This wasn’t Hodgson’s first experience at Wimbledon. The veteran coach has made several appearances at the tournament over the years and considers it one of his favourite sporting events to attend. Reflecting on past visits, he recounted a particularly memorable encounter with tennis icon Roger Federer.

"But in the past, the trips to the Royal Box have enabled me to meet many people that I really wanted to meet in my life," he said. "Luckily one was the Swiss legend Roger Federer, whom I met at the previous years of Wimbledon. If I had to name one person that I met while I was there that made a big impression upon me and that I've always wanted to meet, it was Roger Federer."

This year’s Wimbledon wasn’t short on glamour. The men’s singles final, which saw Jannik Sinner defeat Carlos Alcaraz in an electrifying contest, played out in front of a packed Centre Court that included Hollywood A-listers like Matthew McConaughey, Helen Mirren, Nicole Kidman, and Sir Richard Branson.