Oliver Glasner has confirmed he will step down as Crystal Palace manager when his contract expires at the end of the season, bringing to a close a remarkable spell that has reshaped the club in under two years. Appointed in February 2024 to replace Roy Hodgson, the Austrian has overseen Palace’s most successful period, highlighted by last season’s FA Cup triumph over Manchester City — the first major trophy in the club’s history.
Glasner revealed he informed chairman Steve Parish of his decision during the October international break, but both sides agreed to keep it private to avoid distraction. “A decision has already been taken, months ago”, he said. “I told Steve I would not sign a new contract. We agreed it was best to keep it confidential”. He later added that he hated “if something is written or said which is not true”, explaining how difficult it had been to remain silent amid speculation.
That FA Cup success initially earned Palace a place in the Europa League, but they were subsequently demoted to the Conference League after breaching multi-club ownership regulations, a decision upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The ruling proved a significant source of frustration for Glasner, particularly after the club sold Wembley hero Eberechi Eze to Arsenal for a record £67.5m and failed to reinvest sufficiently ahead of their first European campaign.
Despite recent struggles, including a shock FA Cup defeat to non-league Macclesfield and a prolonged winless run, Glasner remains determined to finish strongly. He told his players of his decision ahead of their trip to Sunderland this weekend and insisted the campaign could still become Palace’s best on points alone. “We are now four points better off than we were at this stage last season”, he said, promising to deliver another trophy before his departure. He even revealed he had already “had a look at the draw tree” for the Conference League play-off against Zrinjski Mostar, adding it would be “quite interesting” to see who Palace might face next.
His announcement comes alongside the imminent departure of captain Marc Guehi, who is set to join Manchester City for £20m and will not feature this weekend as the move is finalised. The fee represents a £15m drop on the £35m Liverpool were prepared to pay last summer, but Palace accepted the offer rather than risk losing their England centre-back on a free transfer in June. Glasner admitted the situation was painful: “When the players want to move on, a deal will happen”.
Off the pitch, attention has turned to potential successors. Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna, Getafe’s José Bordalás, and Rayo Vallecano’s Iñigo Pérez have been discussed internally, while Brendan Rodgers is also thought to be admired. The next appointment will be critical, as several members of the FA Cup-winning squad, including Jean-Philippe Mateta and Adam Wharton, continue to attract interest from elite clubs.
In fewer than 24 months, Glasner transformed Palace from mid-table stability into silverware winners and European competitors. As he prepares for a final push, his legacy at Selhurst Park is secure: a manager who changed expectations, made history, and leaves with unfinished business still within reach.
