Crystal Palace quickly agree on a new manager right after their Conference League win
Crystal Palace have reportedly agreed with a top manager to take over from Oliver Glasner just hours after winning the Conference League. On Wednesday, May 27, Jean-Philippe Mateta’s goal helped the Eagles clinch their second trophy in two seasons by beating La Liga’s Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig.
That game was Glasner’s last as head coach, as he already confirmed he will leave this summer. Several coaches have been linked with the job, including former Brentford and Spurs manager Thomas Frank, and Coventry’s head coach Frank Lampard.
While the celebrations will go on for a while, Palace’s board, especially co-owner and chairman Steve Parish, are already thinking ahead. With the Eagles set to play in the Europa League next season, fresh players will be needed for the busy schedule. But first, they need to appoint Glasner’s replacement — and everyone is wondering who it will be.
Italian news outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport says former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola has turned down the chance to become AC Milan’s manager to coach Palace instead. The report says Iraola has been chased by Leverkusen in Germany, Benfica in Portugal, and Palace in the Premier League. Palace has quickly become AC Milan’s biggest rival for him.
Iraola prefers staying in England because his family is settled here and isn’t fully convinced by Milan’s plans. Other reports say Palace will give Iraola three times more money to spend on players than Milan would this summer.
SPORT reports that Palace has made a large offer to the Basque coach and that a deal seems very close. At Bournemouth, Iraola had 48 wins, 38 draws, and 41 losses in 127 matches, leading the team to its best-ever sixth-place finish and Europa League qualification.
After the big win, co-owner Parish called Palace’s success “incredible” but didn’t say much about who might replace Glasner. He told TNT Sports, “Just to be in Europe is great, travelling around. Winning the trophy is even more amazing. We had ups and downs this season, but getting here is brilliant. Playing in the Europa League shows sometimes the good guys win.
“To win an FA Cup, Community Shield, and a European trophy right away is huge. It means everything. When I bought the club, I didn’t know we’d ever play in Europe, let alone win a trophy. It’s a dream come true. Now we want to keep it going.
“We’ve stepped up a level and need to stay there. It’s not easy because everyone wants to win. We have a lot to do in the summer, but for now, we’ll take a week and enjoy it.”