Glasner bows out in style as Palace lift Conference League
Crystal Palace defeated Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in Leipzig on Wednesday evening to win the UEFA Conference League, delivering the club's first European trophy in its 120-year history. The goal came from Jean-Philippe Mateta in the second half, capping a fairytale 12 months in which the Austrian manager also guided Palace to FA Cup and Community Shield triumphs.
Emotional after the final whistle, Glasner told reporters: "I took a deep breath with the final whistle. I just supported this group of players – I could be the best magician but without the players it wouldn't work." He confirmed the victory would be his last act as Palace manager, having announced in January that he would not extend his contract beyond this season. The 51-year-old leaves the club with three trophies in 375 days and a place in Europa League football secured for next term.
A managerial masterstroke that paid off
Oliver Glasner was appointed in February 2024, replacing Roy Hodgson after a recommendation from then-sporting director Dougie Freedman. Chairman Steve Parish had been hesitant to hire a manager without Premier League experience, but Glasner’s track record at Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt proved persuasive. Within 18 months, the Austrian had transformed Crystal Palace from a mid-table Premier League side into a trophy-winning outfit.
Palace’s success this season was all the more remarkable given that UEFA initially denied them entry to the Europa League due to multi-club ownership rules involving American businessman John Textor’s stake in both Palace and Lyon. Parish called the decision “probably one of the greatest injustices that has ever happened in European football,” and an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport ultimately failed. Instead of being disheartened, Palace channeled the setback into a determined Conference League campaign, culminating in Wednesday’s triumph.
The next chapter: Who replaces Glasner at Selhurst Park?
According to multiple reports, Palace have already identified potential successors. Andoni Iraola at a Crossroads: Liverpool, Leverkusen, or Crystal Palace? explores the Bournemouth manager’s situation, though Iraola has reportedly agreed to join Bayer Leverkusen. Instead, Sky Germany reports that Dino Toppmöller, the former Eintracht Frankfurt boss sacked in January 2026, is in talks with Palace.
Toppmöller would be a curious choice: he replaced Glasner at Frankfurt in 2023, and now could replace him again in south London. The 45-year-old led Frankfurt to a European spot in his second season before being dismissed mid-campaign. He is familiar with the Premier League through his previous roles as assistant to Julian Nagelsmann at RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich. Palace finished 15th in the league this season but return to Europe via their Conference League victory, making the job an attractive proposition for any incoming manager.
Glasner’s legacy and the broader landscape of elite coaching
Glasner’s departure marks the end of a rare modern managerial success story: a relatively short tenure that produced three trophies and transformed a club’s identity. Player Adam Wharton summed it up: "He has got to be one of the best managers Crystal Palace have ever had. He has made a massive difference for how the club looks at competitions." Glasner himself insisted he has no regrets, saying he was always a “servant for the players and the club."
His exit comes amid a wider shake-up in European coaching circles. Xabi Alonso's Chelsea Tenure Begins Amid High Hopes and Tactical Doubts points to the high turnover at the top levels. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s managerial situation remains fluid — Luis Enrique to Liverpool? FSG urged to break bank for PSG boss as Slot pressure mounts highlights how clubs are willing to invest heavily in proven leaders. Glasner’s own next move is still undecided, though links to Bayer Leverkusen have cooled after the club reportedly chose Andoni Iraola.
Win or lose, Glasner leaves Crystal Palace a statement of what can be achieved with a clear tactical vision and a squad that buys into it. For Palace fans, the 2025-26 season will be remembered not as the year they were demoted by UEFA, but as the year Oliver Glasner took them to the top of Europe.
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