Crystal Palace continue to search for a replacement for Oliver Glasner, with Josep Guardiola’s admired manager reportedly the favorite to win the title.
Crystal Palace continue search for Oliver Glasner’s successor
When Glasner stood on the Wembley lawn in May 2025 with the trophy aloft for the first time in Crystal Palace’s 149-year history, it felt like the beginning of something new.
The Austrian coach, who was appointed midway through the season in February 2024, has driven forward with a clear idea of what he wants and the belief that he will see it through, and a club that has been pursuing relevance for decades has finally crossed the line.
A community shield followed. Then came Palace’s first European football via the Conference League. Contrary to most expectations, Steve Parrish found the right person.
Therefore, the calculation is particularly cruel.
Glasner confirmed in January that he made his decision in October, telling Parish over dinner during the international break that he would not extend his contract beyond the summer.
At that point, the season was already starting to solidify.
Crystal Palace reach agreement in principle on signing following ‘decisive action’ by Parish
Steve Parrish and his friends entered the race with aplomb.
With Marc Guehy leaving for Man City in January and Jean-Philippe Mateta also linked with a move to AC Milan, the team that had supported Palace’s extraordinary rise to power was dismantled faster than it could be replaced.
Their results reflected that deterioration, with them 13th in the Premier League and fans could be heard venting their discontent at Selhurst Park, widening the gap between last season’s results and this season’s reality.
Glasner will see the season through to the end — he’s committed to it — and there’s still a chance that conference league glory can return to something meaningful before he leaves.
All eyes are on who will take office next. Because that appointment will determine whether Palace cement their place as a top-half club in the Premier League, or regress into the mediocrity that defined so much of their history before Glasner took over.
A widespread name is beneficial in itself.
Sean Dyche has been out of work since being sacked by Nottingham Forest earlier this season, but has been proposed as a realistic, safety-first option.
The 54-year-old has never overseen relegation from the Premier League in his long managerial career and, with his experience in Europe during his time at Forest, will bring solid credibility to a club looking for stability.
There are also rumors that Palace are fans of Andoni Iraola, but he is likely to reject them in favor of remaining at Bulenmas or moving to Athletic Bilbao.
Another target is reportedly former Tottenham and Brentford manager Thomas Frank.
Thomas Frank takes pole position at Crystal Palace
According to Football Insider, Palace have approached Frank about the job and he is now in pole position to make the move.
Frank became a free agent in February when Tottenham sacked him after a disappointing run of results, but the weight of that failure should not obscure what he achieved during his seven years at Brentford, a feat widely acknowledged by English football as extraordinary.
He managed 317 games and won 132 games for the Bees, the club’s first top-flight season in 74 years, and went on to establish the Bees as a reliable mid-table Premier League team on a budget comparable to that of surrounding clubs.
Ivan Toney, Brian Mbeumo and David Raya are among the players he transformed into top-level footballers, and City’s Guardiola once called Frank “one of the best managers”.
His team was unbeaten at home in the Champions League, even with Spurs overwhelmed by the magnitude of the task. This speaks to his great organizational skills, even when the situation was against him.
Frank’s ability to compete intelligently and develop players without vast resources makes him a convincing fit for Palace, a club that could qualify for European football next season if they advance in the conference league.
If Parrish gets this right, Glassner’s legacy could be a starting point rather than a pinnacle.
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He is a “special” player.
