Crystal Palace have moved Andoni Iraola to the top of their shortlist to replace outgoing head coach Oliver Glasner next season. Glasner confirmed in January that he would step down, and Palace want a new manager in place as soon as possible so the next appointment can help shape summer recruitment. The timing matters because Palace face Crystal Palace's Europa Conference League final on 27 May, with the winner qualifying for next season's Europa League.

Why Palace are moving quickly

BBC Sport reported that Palace are now making concrete moves to persuade Iraola to stay in the Premier League next season. The same report says he is aware of Palace's interest and, after preliminary talks according to sources, is not ruling out joining the Eagles next season.

That is the right way to read this stage of the story. Palace have not appointed him, and the language around the process still leaves room for other outcomes. Even so, they are acting as if he is the name they want most, and that makes sense when a club is trying to land a manager early enough to influence transfers and pre-season planning.

Palace are 15th in the Premier League with 43 points from 34 matches, so this is not a rescue mission in the relegation sense. It is a hiring designed to stabilise the club and give the next manager time to work before the summer window gets moving.

Why Iraola fits the job

Iraola's appeal is easy enough to see from Bournemouth's season. They are 6th in the Premier League with 52 points from 35 matches, which is exactly the sort of top-end league return that makes a candidate stand out in a crowded market.

Palace's own form has also been mixed, with their last five league results reading LLDWD. That is the backdrop for the search, and it explains why the club want a decision in place rather than dragging the process into the summer.

The evidence in the brief points to Iraola as Palace's leading option, but not a done deal. Palace want him in place early, they know the job includes Europe, and they are trying to move before the market starts to shift around them.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →