Back in December, Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool and England defender, praised Oliver Glasner highly. “We’re seeing the best manager and best team in Crystal Palace’s history,” he said.
He might be right. In 2025, Glasner led Palace to a historic FA Cup win, beating reigning champions Manchester City in the Wembley final thanks to an Eberechi Eze goal. Eze has since moved to Arsenal, and Marc Guehi also left for Man City in winter to chase a domestic treble. Despite those major losses, Palace have held firm. They’re sitting mid-table in the Premier League and have reached the Conference League semi-finals.
Glasner could still finish on a high. The Austrian may depart at the end of the season, but he’s transformed Selhurst Park’s outlook. The club’s hierarchy now has to get his replacement right.
The search for Glasner’s successor
Replacing Glasner won’t be simple. Recent reports linked recently-sacked Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior to the job, but that looks unlikely. Rosenior is expected to take time away from football after his three-month spell at Stamford Bridge ended badly, which could push Palace to look elsewhere.
That might be for the best. According to the Daily Mail, Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola is a leading candidate for the role this summer. Iraola has already confirmed he’ll leave the Vitality Stadium when his contract expires. Chelsea are also interested in the 43-year-old, but Palace could offer him more stability than the Blues and a chance to keep building his career.
Talks with Iraola’s representatives have already happened, so this is one to watch.
Why Iraola fits Palace
Iraola will have plenty of offers, but Palace could be a smart move. He’d inherit a Europa League side coming off back-to-back title-winning campaigns.
Frankly, Rosenior’s record doesn’t compare to Iraola’s in the Premier League. The former Brighton defender may still develop into a strong top-flight coach, but he didn’t get much time at Chelsea. With an expectant club behind him, he failed to convince.
Iraola vs Rosenior – 25/26 Premier League Record
Iraola Rosenior
Matches 34 13
Wins 11 5
Draws 16 2
Losses 7 6
Points 49 17
PPM 1.44 1.31
Sky Sports’ Sam Tighe called Iraola “the best young coach in the world.” He’s proven in England’s top flight, and taking over from Glasner would let him implement a more attack-minded style at Palace.
Tactically, he brings intensity and creativity. He also favors a 4-2-3-1 system, which would move Palace away from the three-at-the-back setup Glasner perfected. Rosenior came to Chelsea known for a back three from his Strasbourg days, but abandoned it at Stamford Bridge. If he tried to copy Glasner’s system at Palace, it could backfire.
Iraola has earned praise since replacing Gary O’Neil in 2023. His Bournemouth side has improved each season.
If it comes down to just these two, Iraola is the clear choice. Though still young, he’s already built strong Premier League experience and is in high demand. His progressive approach and track record of handling player sales and recruitment make him stand out. Palace could be the ideal next step as he chases elite managerial status.
Chelsea are circling, but Iraola won’t want to repeat Rosenior’s fate. Chairman Steve Parish can offer stability and a platform for success over the coming years. It could be an ideal fit.
