Analysis: Who’s in contention to replace Oliver Glasner as Crystal Palace manager @Owhitemanjourn

Written by Oliver Whiteman (@Owhitemanjourn)

After a whirlwind of a Friday press conference that sealed the futures of Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi and manager Oliver Glasner, it has now been confirmed that both will be departing the club- Guehi in January to Manchester City and Glasner at the end of the season upon the expiry of his contract.

But who will be the Austrian’s successor for the 26/27 season? The bookies have already listed their favourites and below I analyze the managers that keep coming up towards the top of their lists…

Inigo Perez (Rayo Vallecano)

Preferred formation: 4-2-3-1

The 37-year-old currently manages La Liga side Rayo Vallecano who sit 10th in the table where the Spaniard is part of a prominent wave of modern managers from the Basque region. Others include Xabi Alonso, Mikel Arteta and Inigo Perez’s close friend and current AFC Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola.

The pair played together under Marcelo Bielsa at Atletico Bilbao and Perez served as Iraola’s assistant at Rayo Vallecano before his move to Bournemouth where Perez would’ve joined the coaching staff at the Premier League side had he passed work permit regulations.

(Iraola pictured left, Perez pictured middle)

Instead he replaced Iraola as Rayo Vallecano boss but continued to play and replicate the Bournemouth manger’s style and philosophy.

“We have shared many years together in professional football. I won’t try to fool anyone. The idea is similar and that’s why we worked together… it doesn’t make me feel uncomfortable. I’m not afraid of the comparison.”

Inigo Perez, speaking about his relationship with Iraola, Feb 2024

This style consists of high pressing, fast tempo and quick transitions that create an “ordered chaos” to generate chances and disrupt possession-based oppositions to the point where they never get fully comfortable on the pitch.

A perfect example of this coming into fruition is Rayo Vallecano taking points off both Real Madrid and Barcelona this campaign in 0-0 and 1-1 draws respectively.

Jose Bordalas (Getafe)

Preferred Formation: 4-4-2

Another Spaniard plying his trade in La Liga that could make the switch to Selhurst Park is Jose Bordalas who has grown a reputation in Spain and across Europe as one of the most “anti-football” and “shameless” managers due to his heavily pragmatic and antagonistic approach.

This is evident though his Getafe side using long throws, regularly fouling the opposition and winning a high percentage of duels to not please but ultimately frustrate.

(Jose Bordalas could join up with current Crystal Palace and former Getafe player Christantus Uche.)

However, despite Getafe scoring the second lowest number of goals in La Liga this season (15) they are the most clinical with the least amount of big chances missed (12) and have a great defensive record.

And in response to the critics of his displeasing tactical philosophy, Jose stated:

“For me, playing football well is winning.”

which epitomizes that Bordalas couldn’t care less about the “right” or “aesthetic” way to play modern football as long as his team get the all important three points.

Therefore, if you thought that Roy Hodgson’s defensive football was tough to watch, watching Bordalas at Crystal Palace would be a whole lot tougher.

Kieran McKenna (Ipswich Town)

Preferred formation: 4-2-3-1/3-4-2-1

As the only manager on this shortlist with experience in the Premier League, Kieran McKenna should find the transition to the English top flight the easiest.

Albeit, despite being Betfair’s leading contender for the Palace job with 4/1 odds, Kieran could be a Premier League manager next season anyway as his Ipswich Town side currently place third in the Championship.

In one of his initial press conferences as Ipswich Town boss, Kieran McKenna stated:

“I do have a clear idea on how I want the game to be played.

I want us to be positive, to dominate games and play in the opposition’s half. I want us to attack in a clearly-structured but both balanced and aggressive way to create chances and score goals.”

McKenna’s style is seen as a progressive and brave approach that is built on fluidity, possession and aggressive counter-pressing that completely juxtaposes Bordalas’ philosophy as Kieran aims to entertain instead.

Moreover his current team, Ipswich, are effective in both boxes with the second best average in the Championship for goals per match and goals conceded per match whilst also averaging the third highest amount of possession (57%).

Roger Schmidt (Unattached)

Preferred formation: 4-2-3-1

After successful stints at the likes of Bayer Leverkusen, PSV Eindhoven and Benfica that included winning the Liga Portugal title and KNVB Cup, the German boss has now been without a club since August 2024.

Schmidt was firstly a target for Crystal Palace in 2017 after Sam Allardyce’s departure but now the 57-year-old is still liked and admired by the Eagles hierarchy, even though his odds for the Palace job are the lowest out of the above candidates at 18/1.

(Roger Schmidt pictured in 2023 lifting the Portuguese league title with Benfica.)

His style of play is known to be highly intense and aggressive with a direct approach to get the better of his opponents through “Gegenpressing” and fast transitions.

As a result, he demands players to have a high physical and mental fitness to carry out his philosophy where wingers often cut inside and full backs tend to push high and wide.

Speaking to The Guardian back in 2016 when he was Bayer Leverkusen boss, Schmidt said:

“We’re happy when the game is intense.

Even against teams that are supposedly better than us, like Bayern Munich or Barcelona last season in the Champions League, we try and make them play our football – that’s what we demand of our opponents, and if it works we normally win the game.”

So, who would you want to see as the successor for Oliver Glasner? Comment below who you think is the right man for the job.