Oliver Glasner, the former manager of Eintracht Frankfurt, was chosen manager of Crystal Palace yesterday. Roy Hodgson had announced his resignation earlier that day, citing the Premier League club’s terrible performance.
After becoming unwell after a training session last week, former England manager Hodgson—who had been under increasing pressure—was admitted to the hospital as rumors of his impending dismissal began to circulate.
In a statement released by the team, Hodgson, 76, stated that he was leaving to enable them to “bring forward their plans for a new manager.”
Glasner was named by Palace as Hodgson’s replacement shortly after, and the Austrian player agreed to a contract that would last until the end of the 2025–2026 campaign.
The 49-year-old Austrian, who managed Wolfsburg and LASK in addition to leading Eintracht Frankfurt to Europa League victory in 2022, stated, “I am very happy to join Crystal Palace FC as manager.”
“I’m excited to work with the talented team, get to know the club’s supporters, and experience the atmosphere at Selhurst Park that I’ve heard so much about.”
“I’m delighted to welcome Oliver to the club,” stated Steve Parish, chairman of the Palace. With his stellar track record, we think he’s the ideal manager to lead the team at this crucial juncture.
“We think Oliver’s ambition and his exciting, attacking style are the ideal combination, and wherever he has gone thus far in his managerial career, success has followed quickly.”
Ten of Palace’s last 16 league games have resulted in losses, and they are now just five points behind Everton, who are now in third place and will play them later on Wednesday. This puts Palace in serious difficulty.
Ray Lewington and Paddy McCarthy, two of Hodgson’s aides, will be in charge of the squad at Goodison Park.
Following a humiliating 4-1 loss at Brighton, Hodgson’s last game as Palace’s manager was a 3-1 home loss against Chelsea on February 12.
He affirmed that he had the “strength, the resilience and the determination” to turn around the team’s dismal form following the loss to Brighton.
After leading the south London team from 2017 to 2021, the former manager of Inter Milan and Liverpool made a reappearance in March of last year.
After Patrick Vieira resigned, he took over on a temporary basis, leading them to an 11th-place finish and out of relegation danger.
“Special location”
In his first season as manager, Hodgson, who was signed as a youth and was born close to the team’s Selhurst Park stadium, also prevented Palace from being relegated in 2017–18.
Now discharged from the hospital, Hodgson added, “This club is very special and means so much to me and has played a big part in my footballing life.”
He then on, “I am sure the season will end well, and I wish the team every success in the upcoming weeks, months, and seasons.”
Fans criticized what they perceived as drab play and management of star winger Michael Olise, who hobbled out barely 11 minutes after replacing him as a substitute during his injury comeback against Brighton, turning Hodgson’s otherwise brilliant reign into a farce this season.
Parish expressed gratitude to Hodgson and that he deserved respect for keeping the team in the top division.
He declared, “Roy will always hold a special place in Crystal Palace history.”
“He rejoined us almost a year ago to steady the ship, and he worked wonders after leading the club to Premier League status for four years in a row.”
In addition to managing teams throughout Europe, Hodgson also served as a coach for Finland, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates before starting his extensive and varied managerial career in 1976 with the Swedish team Halmstads.
When he took over as England manager in May 2012, he managed the team through three major tournaments, but they were unable to end their trophy drought that began in 1966, suffering a humiliating last-round loss to Iceland in the 2016 European Championship. AFP
