Oliver Glasner will hope that the March international break has been a worthwhile sojourn for his Crystal Palace players ahead of the crucial final weeks of the season, and not a hit to their recent turnaround in form.
It’s been a tough season for the Eagles, and yet, they are into a European quarter-final, with a recent burst of form in the Premier League ending any fears of a relegation battle.
However, chairman Steve Parish will be aware that the Austrian has been the architect of this rich period of the Eagles’ history, winning the FA Cup and the Community Shield in 2025.
With Glasner already having confirmed that he will leave when his contract expires this summer, it’s going to be slightly nerve-wracking waiting to see who is picked as his successor.
Palace lining up Glasner replacement
As Tottenham Hotspur close in on Roberto De Zerbi, the chances of Crystal Palace striking a deal with the unemployed Sean Dyche have increased, though that’s not an appointment that would be well met by the fanbase, given his pragmatic tactical approach.
Crystal Palace plotting to replace Glasner with their next Roy Hodgson
Crystal Palace are set to appoint a new manager at the end of the 2025/26 season.
Thomas Frank is also an option, but the Dane’s disastrous stint at Tottenham Hotspur has knocked his stock, and there may instead be interest in a more progressive manager to further develop the foundations that Glasner has set over the past couple of years.
However, Parish is keeping an open mind, and he’s even eyeing an ambitious move for Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola, who, like Glasner, is out of contract this summer.
Iraola, 43, has reshaped the Cherries into an attack-focused outfit, and while he has interest from Athletic Bilbao in his Spanish homeland, as well as from the top brass in the Premier League, the Eagles have already lined up a move in recent months and could pull off an incredible heist here.
The managerial merry-go-round seems to be gearing up for full swing this summer, and Crystal Palace could continue to develop as European competitors by landing a coach such as Iraola.
Why Iraola is perfect for Crystal Palace
Tottenham are set to appoint De Zerbi, and Crystal Palace could land their own version of the Italian boss in Iraola, someone who could actually come to outstrip him as an elite Premier League coach.
The ex-Brighton boss is well regarded for his intense attacking football, emphasis on intelligent usage of possession, and Iraola shares with his peer a track record of arriving on the south coast and transforming a top-flight team into a respected force.
Iraola has done an incredible job at the Vitality Stadium, turning Bournemouth into one of the sharpest and most entertaining sides in the Premier League.
Aside from the so-called biggest clubs in the country, his south coasters have created more xG than any other team in the Premier League, and if he can harness the goalscoring qualities of Palace’s forwards, the gap on such sides could be bridged in north London.
|
Premier League 25/26 – Highest Expected Goals (xG) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Team |
Goals |
xG |
|
(1) Chelsea |
53 |
59.3 |
|
(2) Man City |
60 |
55.3 |
|
(3) Man United |
56 |
53.2 |
|
(4) Arsenal |
61 |
52.7 |
|
(5) Liverpool |
50 |
51.1 |
|
(6) Bournemouth |
46 |
50.0 |
|
(10) Crystal Palace |
33 |
45.8 |
Expected Goals (xG) is a metric designed to measure the probability of a shot resulting in a goal.
Iraola’s suffocating high press and hunger to outwork his opponents could prove perfect for the coming transition at Selhurst Park. Glasner will be a tough man to replace, but Iraola has been called the “best young coach in the world” by Sky Sports journalist Sam Tighe, and he’s got the managerial skillset to prove it.
Moreover, the Spaniard implements an interchangeable formation, dropping from 4-2-3-1 into a more compact 4-3-3 shape when out of possession.
A number of variables will determine whether Iraola will move to London and take on the job at Selhurst Park. Should Palace win the Conference League, though, they will earn a ticket into next year’s Europa League proper.
Iraola would be an absolute steal for Crystal Palace, and certainly not an easy signature to get onto the books. Should Parish pull it off, it might end up being his crowning achievement in hindsight.
Crystal Palace eyeing ‘shock move’ for trophy-winning manager to replace Oliver Glasner
The Eagles are plotting an ambitious potential appointment.