Although Crystal Palace have struggled in the Premier League for the second half of this season, there is no doubt that Oliver Glasner is leaving the club as one of the great managers. With the historic FA Cup title, Community Shield title and now the final of the Conference League, there will be a big hole to fill when Palace go out and find the coach who can replace the Austrian. The perfect one has now been found. Andoni Iraola is said to be persuaded to choose Palace, now it is reported that the club is well on the way to success.
While Glasner leaves Selhurst at the end of the season, Andoni Iraola does the same at Bournemouth. The Spaniard leaves the club he took over as a relegation candidate, with one hand on the Europa League ticket with 6th place in the Premier League (could become an extra CL ticket for 6th place). According to the BBC, Crystal Palace have Frank Lampard, Thomas Frank and Sean Dyche on their list of candidates, but it is Iraola who is at the top.
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Teamtalk’s sources at Selhurst Park report that Palace management now have a growing conviction that they can persuade Iraola to move to South East London and replace the outgoing Oliver Glasner. Palace’s management believes the club’s structure, recruitment strategy and new, young squad can appeal strongly to the Spaniard. Furthermore, there is also internal confidence that the opportunity to build a long-term project with relative autonomy – something he probably couldn’t get at Chelsea – could set Palace apart from some of the bigger clubs currently considering managerial options.
Iraola’s work with younger players and his tactical flexibility are seen as ideal matches for the direction Palace want to move in after Glasner’s departure. Securing Iraola would undoubtedly represent one of the biggest managerial signings in the club’s modern history, and Palace are now pushing hard to make that ambition a reality.
We see Iraola as an excellent coach for Jørgen Strand Larsen, where Palace will be lifted – also in the Premier League.
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