Crystal Palace shortlist replacement for Oliver Glasner

Crystal Palace news: Crystal Palace have reportedly opened a dialogue with Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola. According to the Daily Mail, the club want him to succeed Oliver Glasner. Both Iraola and Glasner reach the end of their contracts this summer. Both men look set to depart. The Austrian manager recently confirmed he will not sign a new deal at Selhurst Park. Glasner guided Palace to FA Cup and Community Shield success. His high-pressing, energetic style refreshed the squad. However, ongoing disagreements with the board eventually became too much. These disputes mostly involved recruitment strategy.

Crystal Palace news: Crystal Palace Make Contact With Iraola As Glasner’s Exit Draws Near

The 43-year-old Spaniard has attracted serious interest from Premier League rivals. This follows a fine three-season spell with the Cherries. Iraola has taken Bournemouth to new heights since his arrival. They are now one of the most exciting teams in the league. A top-half finish is possible this season.

European qualification is a real possibility. He guided Bournemouth to ninth place last term. He also secured a club-record top-flight tally of 56 points. Before Bournemouth, Iraola played for Spain seven times. He spent most of his professional career with Athletic Bilbao. He later built his coaching reputation at Rayo Vallecano. He took that club from the second division to a stable position in La Liga.

This season, Iraola has kept Bournemouth in 9th place. The team has recorded nine wins and 13 draws in 29 Premier League matches. His work on the south coast transformed Bournemouth. They can now challenge for European spots. This tactical shift has boosted his reputation among top English clubs.

Will Palace Actually Get Their Man, Or Is Athletic Club The Bigger Draw?

The situation is getting messy. Crystal Palace supporters should probably lower their expectations about this Crystal Palace news. Athletic Club announced on 20 March that Ernesto Valverde will leave at the end of the season. Iraola is now a leading candidate to replace him. Iraola made over 510 appearances for Athletic Bilbao across 12 seasons. The chance to return to San Mamés carries a heavy emotional weight. Iraola was leaning towards a new deal with Bournemouth recently. However, the news from Athletic Club changed everything.

This is a dangerous moment for Palace. Iraola likes stability. He wants the power to build a team in his own image. Palace often sell their best players. They recently sold Marc Guehi to Manchester City. This track record makes it hard to meet Iraola’s demands. On paper, his high-intensity pressing system suit Palace. It relies on positional discipline and quick transitions. But this system needs squad depth and trust. Selhurst Park has not always provided those things.

Liverpool receive boost in their interest for €50m midfielder

I honestly doubt Palace will land Iraola this summer. The Athletic Club link makes it even more unlikely. A man who captained and served one club for a decade does not ignore that call. He won’t pick a mid-table London side that is still finding its way over a return home. The football world will probably see Iraola head back to Bilbao in June. This would leave Palace chasing managers like Thomas Frank as a backup. That might be a smart appointment. However, it would prove that a gap still exists between Palace’s goals and their actual pull in the market.