Crystal Palace confirm Oliver Glasner, 49, replaces Roy Hodgson as manager in ‘worst kept secret in football’
OLIVER GLASNER is the new Crystal Palace manager.
The Austrian replaces Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park after the 76-year-old walked away this afternoon.
Glasner, 49, signed a two-and-a-half-year deal in South London.
He said: “I am very happy to join Crystal Palace as manager.
“I am looking forward to working with the talented squad, meeting the club’s supporters and experiencing the Selhurst Park atmosphere I have heard so much about.
“It has been a pleasure to meet with Steve Parish and Dougie Freedman, and I am looking forward to working with them to achieve our goals.”
Hodgson’s exit was confirmed four hours before tonight’s Monday Night Football clash away at Everton.
The former England boss was rushed to hospital after being taken ill during Friday’s training.
Paddy McCarthy and Ray Lewington will be in the dugout for the trip to Goodison Park before Glasner takes charge.
His coaching team is yet to be confirmed by Palace.
Chairman Steve Parish added: “I’m delighted to welcome Oliver to the club.
“He has an outstanding record, and we believe he is the right manager to take the club forward at this pivotal stage.
“Wherever Oliver has gone so far in his managerial journey, success has been quick to follow, and we believe his ambition, as well as his exciting and attacking approach, is the perfect fit for getting the most from our talented young squad in the remainder of this Premier League season and beyond.”
Glasner’s playing career was cut short by a brain haemorrhage in 2011.
He stepped into management, taking his first job at former club SV Ried before spells with LASK, Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt, leaving the Bundesliga club last summer.
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Who is Oliver Glasner?
FORMER defender Oliver Glasner is a Europa League-winning manager.
The Austrian, 49, spent his entire playing career in his homeland, and was a one-club man, playing 516 times over 19 years for SV Reid.
But he was forced to retire in terrifying circumstances when he developed a brain haemorrhage after heading a ball in training.
Emergency surgery saved his life but it spelled the end of him playing career, aged 37.
Thankfully, Glasner recovered and embarked upon what has become a very successful coaching career.
He reached out to Ralf Rangnick for a job and became sports coordinator and assistant manager at Red Bull Salzburg.
Glasner was handed his first managerial role at former club SV Ried in 2014, guiding the club to a sixth place finish in the Austrian Bundesliga.
He then moved on to LASK, where he served as both manager and director of football between 2015 and 2019.
During that time, LASK won promotion back to the top-flight and returned to Europe before a second place finish in Glasner’s final season in charge.
Following his success at LASK, Glasner moved to Germany with Wolfsburg in 2019.
After securing Champions League football in 2021, the Austrian moved to Frankfurt.
His maiden season with the club would end with European glory, as Frankfurt beat Rangers on penalties in the Europa League final.
The triumph earned the club their third European trophy and first since 1980.
Glasner left the Eagles last summer after a seventh place finish and a run to the Champions League last 16.