Ian Wright hailed Oliver Glasner as ‘the best manager’ in Crystal Palace’s history and said he was pleased his former club had made it to the Conference League final.
Ian Wright has said that Oliver Glasner will go down as ‘the best manager’ in Crystal Palace’s history.
The former Crystal Palace striker was talking on Sky Sports Super Sunday’s coverage of The Eagles’ 2-2 draw with Everton at Selhurst Park.
Palace came back in that match on two occasions through Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta, in a result that officially guarantees their place in the Premier League for next season.
But before the match, Wright, who spent six years at Crystal Palace, reaching the FA Cup final with the Eagles in the 1989/90 season, heaped praise on Glasner.
The Austrian has transformed expectations at Selhurst Park, with Palace going on to win their first ever trophy in the form of the FA Cup and now on their way to potentially winning their second after booking their spot in the Conference League final.
And it is for that reason, former Arsenal forward Wright gave Glasner the ultimate superlative of calling him the club’s best ever manager.
He said: “He’ll be remembered very fondly. If he can finish the season winning the Conference, then he is the most successful manager in Palace’s history.
“He’s done an amazing job. Obviously, the way it has gone this season, it is getting noticed that he is leaving.
“I am quite pleased it has turned out as it has in the Conference [League], because it could have got very toxic for him, but it is something he has acknowledged himself, he has said some things he might have taken back, but I am glad it is finishing in a way where it could be successful for everyone.
“He is leaving the place in a better place, and like I say, he will go down as the best manager in Palace’s history up until this point.
“FA Cup and then the Conference [League] in two years, it is amazing.”
Adding to what Wright said, Jamie Redknapp spoke about how impressive it has been for Palace to have maintained their form and gone on to reach the final after it was announced that Glasner would depart the club.
He added: “The biggest compliment I could give Glasner and [Andoni] Iraola to a certain extent, when you say you are leaving a club, it is very easy for players then maybe to down tools, to check out and think ah the manager is leaving, it doesn’t matter now.
“That is why they have shown they are elite managers, they have still shown they can keep that squad, hold it with an iron fist and still produce fantastic results.”
Palace finish the season with matches against Manchester City, Brentford and Arsenal in the Premier League, before the Conference League final.