Back in December, former Liverpool and England centre-back Jamie Carragher sang Oliver Glasner‘s praises. “We are watching the best manager and the best team in Crystal Palace‘s history,” he said.
This is probably true. After all, in 2025, Glasner oversaw his side’s incredible FA Cup triumph, defeating holders Manchester City in th final at Wembley. Eberechi Eze scored the goal, and though he’s now playing for Arsenal, the Eagles have endured.
Marc Guehi also plays his football elsewhere, targeting a domestic treble with the Citizens after his winter switch. That was a big blow, but Crystal Palace have endured, comfortable at the middle of the Premier League pack and into the Conference League semi-finals.
Glasner could go out with a bang all right. The Austrian coach might be leaving at the end of the season, but he has changed Selhurst Park’s trajectory, and the superiors cannot make a mess of finding his successor.
Crystal Palace in talks to hire Premier League manager
Crystal Palace have a tough task on their hands, and while replacing Glasner won’t be easy, they will surely opt against moving for Liam Rosenior, with recent reports suggesting that the recently-sacked Chelsea manager is in contention for the job.
However, it’s understood that Rosenior is set to take a break from management after being left chagrined by his three-month tenure’s collapse, and that could prompt Palace to move in a different direction.
Perhaps that would be for the best. According to the Daily Mail, Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola is in contention for the Palace job this summer, having already confirmed that he will depart the Vitality Stadium at the end of his contract this summer.
Chelsea are actually among the leading contenders for the 43-year-old, but he may not find the stability that he deserves over the coming years with the Blues, and could instead continue to build his career with a move to Selhurst Park.
However, Iraola is the Eagles’ leading contender, and with talks having already taken place with the coach’s camp, this is certainly one to keep a close eye on.
Why Iraola would be Palace’s perfect appointment
Iraola has the pick of many options this summer, but Crystal Palace could be a shrewd pick for the in-demand manager, who would take the reins of a team entering the Europa League after back-to-back title-winning seasons.
Frankly, Rosenior can’t hold a candle to Iraola’s achievements in the Premier League. The one-time Brighton defender may yet rebound and establish himself as an effective top-flight manager.
Rosenior did not have as much time as his Spanish counterpart to stamp down his managerial style, but Chelsea are an expectant outfit, and he failed to inspire belief.
|
Iraola vs Rosenior – Premier League Record (25/26) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Dyche |
# |
Rosenior |
|
34 |
Matches |
13 |
|
11 |
Wins |
5 |
|
16 |
Draws |
2 |
|
7 |
Losses |
6 |
|
49 |
Points |
17 |
|
1.44 |
PPM |
1.31 |
Hailed as “the best young coach in the world” by Sky Sports’ Sam Tighe, Iraola has demonstrable experience in England’s top flight, and by taking over from Glasner, he could instil at Crystal Palace a more attack-focused approach.
Intensity and imagination make up his forte at the tactical board. Moreover, Iraola plays with a 4-2-3-1 formation, so the Eagles could drift away from the three-man defence that Glasner has perfected but others in the division have struggled to enforce.
Rosenior arrived at Stamford Bridge with projections centring around his three-man-defence ideology. He opted against utilising that blueprint laid with Strasbourg, but appointing him in south London may see him look to emulate Glasner – and that could be a recipe for disaster.
Iraola has raked in plaudits all season. In fact, he has been praised since replacing Gary Neil in 2023. His Cherries side have only gone from strength to strength over the past few years.
If Palace’s shortlist boils down to just two, there’s no question that Iraola deserves the candidacy.
Iraola might be young, but he has already established a wealth of Premier League experience and is coveted by any number of teams.
His sharp, forward-thinking style and ability to navigate transfer windows excellently, losing players and plugging those holes, underscores his potential, and Palace would surely be the perfect stepping stone as he continues to pursue managerial superstardom.
Chelsea are among the suitors, but Iraola won’t want to be another Rosenior. Palace chairman Steve Parish can offer him stability and a pathway toward success over the next several years. It could be the perfect match.
Glasner must drop Crystal Palace star who was worse than Johnson at Anfield
Oliver Glasner must now axe this Crystal Palace star who only made six passes all game at Anfield.
