Oliver Glasner decides to leave Crystal Palace, one of Europe’s most hated managers lined up to replace him
Oliver Glasner is planning to leave Crystal Palace at the end of his current contract next summer.
Glasner has become the most successful manager in Crystal Palace’s history this year, but he felt aggrieved at how he was not fully backed in the transfer window following last season’s FA Cup win.
Those disagreements have led to uncertainty around his future, and all the signs have pointed to him making an amicable exit at the end of this campaign when his contract comes to an end.
Glasner heavily criticised the Crystal Palace board after their recent defeat to Manchester United, and sources have told Football Insider that several clubs are keeping close tabs on his situation as a result.
A manager with his kind of pedigree could well have the pick of teams to join next summer, and it looks as if the Eagles are now preparing for his departure by targeting Getafe’s controversial manager Jose Bordalas.
Glasner reportedly set to refuse new contract as Palace eye Bordalas
Palace chiefs have tried to tie Glasner down to a new deal, but his lofty ambitions clearly do not match those of the club right now.
While he is expected to see out the remainder of his contract but not renew, Spanish outlet Carrusel Deportivo have reported that the South London club have set their sights on appointing Getafe boss Bordalas next summer.
The report states that there has been no contact between Bordalas and Palace yet, but the Spaniard could be offered a desirable project to take over for the 2026-27 campaign.
Bordalas’ style of play has made him a controversial figure in Spain
Appointing Bordalas would certainly be a left-field choice for the Eagles, but his record in Spanish football is not to be sniffed at, even if he constantly rubs people up the wrong way.
Xavi Hernandez once insisted that “normal people don’t want to watch football like that” after facing Bordalas’ attritional, cynical Getafe side as Barcelona manager.
“This isn’t football. It’s something else and it makes my blood boil,” is what Quique Setien said in 2020 when he was in charge of Barca and coming up against Bordalas.
The 61-year-old has won promotion from Spain’s second-tier with both Alaves and Getafe, while he led the latter to their best-ever La Liga finish of fifth in 2019.
The Madrid-based club have consistently finished in mid-table since he returned in 2023 following a brief spell at Valencia, and currently sit 10th in La Liga as they target Conference League qualification.
Bordalas’ contract at Getafe is set to expire next summer and there has been no talk of a renewal as yet, so he may well jump at the chance to test himself in England if Palace offer him a job ahead of next season.