- Crystal Palace assessing Oliver Glasner successors
- List whittled down to three candidates
- Andoni Iraola remains frontrunner
There are now just three managers reportedly remaining on Crystal Palace’s radar whom they want to succeed Oliver Glasner. The Eagles have been searching for a replacement, and the search is seemingly coming to a close.
According to Sky Sports’ James Savundra, Palace have whittled down their head coach wishlist to three candidates. Their top target remains Andoni Iraola, who is leaving Bournemouth at the end of the season.
Lens boss Pierre Sage joins Iraola on that list, and he’d be an exciting appointment. The French tactician is highly admired in European football, having led his team back to the UEFA Champions League this season.
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Crystal Palace list shortens
There’s no word on the third name on Palace’s shortlist, but Iraola and Sage fit the profile Steve Parish’s board wants to appoint. Tactically flexible, progressive coaches who are renowned for their man-management style.
Both have worked on limited budgets during their managerial careers. Iraola has dealt with high-profile exits at Vitality, including Antoine Semenyo and Dean Huijsen.
Sage also managed a Lyon side that have endured financial issues in recent years. His Lens team are an underdog story, punching way above their weight in Ligue 1.
Liking Palace’s style
What seems clear is that Palace aren’t looking for an easy option or perhaps an uninspiring choice. The likes of Thomas Frank and Sean Dyche would be divisive appointments, given that Glasner is a level above the pair.
The only issue Palace have with potentially trying to lure Sage to Selhurst Park is that he is tied to Lens until the summer of 2028. The Eagles very rarely pay compensation for a manager and haven’t done so since Alan Pardew’s arrival from Newcastle United in January 2015.
| Manager: | Andoni Iraola | Pierre Sage |
| Current Club | AFC Bournemouth (Premier League) | RC Lens (Ligue 1) |
| Age | 43 | 47 |
| Preferred Formation | 4-2-3-1 | 3-4-2-1 |
| Total Senior Matches | ~332 | ~94 |
| Total Wins | 125 | 59 |
| Total Draws | 93 | 13 |
| Total Losses | 114 | 22 |
| Overall Win % | 37.6% | 62.7% |
| Avg. Points Per Match (PPM) | 1.40 | 2.02 |
| Trophies Won | 1 (Cypriot Super Cup 2018) | — |
Glasner’s impact in South London has been astonishing, and it’s important the club appoint a successor who can build on his success. Winning the UEFA Conference League could go a long way toward enticing the likes of Iraola and Sage to take the job.
The next step under their tutelage is to push on and continue fighting for trophies. That might even mean targeting a second consecutive European trophy win because Europa League football awaits if the Eagles beat Rayo Vallecano in the Conference League final on May 27th.
