- Andoni Iraola not keen on Crystal Palace job
- Spaniard is prioritising two other clubs
- Eagles have two alternatives on radar
Andoni Iraola won’t be succeeding Oliver Glasner as Crystal Palace manager despite the club winning the UEFA Conference League. The Spaniard has been the top choice to replace Glasner, who oversaw his last game last night.
Palace beat Rayo Vallecano to win the Conference League and qualify for next season’s Europa League. That had seemed to help the Eagles in their attempts to appoint Iraola.
The Spanish tactician is leaving Bournemouth and is in high demand. He’s held talks with AC Milan but discussions aren’t progressing with the Serie A club.
Iraola rules out Palace
Sky Sports claim that Iraola is unlikely to succeed Glasner. They suggest that his decision stems from not wanting to leave Bournemouth, who finished sixth, and join Palace, who finished 15th.
Instead, Iraola is prioritising either the Bayer Leverkusen job or a move to replace Arne Slot at Liverpool. He might have to wait for the latter given there is no indication that the Premier League club are set to part ways with Slot.
It’s a setback for Palace, who seemed hopeful about appointing the 43-year-old. He is one of Europe’s most promising coaches, having guided Bournemouth to Europa League qualification.
The Eagles’ Conference League triumph hasn’t convinced Iraola to take over from Glasner. The club will now have to look at other options.
The alternatives
Lens’ Pierre Sage has been linked, and reports suggested he, along with Iraola, was one of three candidates Palace had in mind. The French coach has earned plaudits during his time managing in Ligue 1, and he achieved an impressive second-placed finish this season.
BBC Sport‘s Sami Mokbel claims that Coventry City’s Frank Lampard is an option. The Chelsea legend secured promotion with the Sky Blues after winning the EFL Championship.
Lampard has Premier League experience, having previously managed Chelsea and Everton. The Englishman is contracted to Coventry until the summer of 2027.
