- Dino Toppmoller on Palace shortlist
- German coach is available to replace Oliver Glasner
- The Eagles searching for Premier League experience
Crystal Palace’s manager hunt has seen Dino Toppmoller in contention for the role, with the German holding similarities to Oliver Glasner after replacing him at Eintracht Frankfurt in early 2023.
Toppmoller has been available since January after being sacked by Frankfurt due to a decline in defensive performance from the Bundesliga side.
The 45-year-old begun his managerial career in Luxembourg with F91 Dudelange before taking on assistant managerial roles in the Bundesliga.
He became manager of Frankfurt in 2023 following the departure of Glasner, with similarities shared between the tactics of the two managers. Toppmoller built on Glasner’s success with Frankfurt guiding them to a sixth-placed and third-placed finish in his two seasons.
With a win rate of 42% and strong tactical flexibility, the German coach’s time at Frankfurt is viewed favourably.
Toppmoller moves down the list
According to Alan Nixon on Patreon Toppmoller has moved down the list of Palace’s potential appointees. Nixon reports that the Eagles are preferring candidates with domestic experience and Toppmoller is yet to manage within England.
Instead candidates such as Frank Lampard, Sean Dyche and Kieran Mckenna are being floated around as more experienced replacements for Glasner.
The intensity and physicality of the Premier League does stand out compared to Europe’s other top-flight Leagues.
Palace look unwilling to take a gamble and, understandably, Toppmoller’s lack of experience beyond the Bundesliga does pose a risk.
No frontrunner obvious
While the Eagles would have been hoping to have the managerial vacancy filled early on in the summer the decision is looking difficult with no clear and obvious front runner.
Andoni Iraola was the preferred candidate by the Eagles yet Liverpool look set to snap him up with Arne Slot’s swift departure.
Palace appear to be sorting through priorities with Premier League experience high up on their search for an ideal manager. This means the likes of European talents Pierre Sage and Toppmoller may be pushed down the list, despite their strong performances in recent seasons.
