Oliver Glasner's story is one for the ages. He survived death to win everything.
Here's the gist
He spent 19 years as a defender at SV Ried, a small Austrian second division club. Not glamorous. Not famous. Just a man who loved football and gave everything to one club.
Then his playing career ended because of brain haemorrhage that forced him into retirement.
Glasner went back to university instead. He completed an MBA, a Masters of Business Administration while still involved in football.
He started coaching at the same club that gave him everything as a player. Then LASK. Then Wolfsburg. At every stop he left the club better than he found it.
Then came Frankfurt. And the moment that announced him to the world.
In the Europa League quarter-finals his Frankfurt side eliminated Barcelona at the Camp Nou. Xavi a four-time Champions League winner watched them and said "They play on the counter-attack and counter-press in a way I've only seen from a few teams in my career."
They beat West Ham in the semis. Then beat Rangers on penalties in Seville to win the Europa League. Frankfurt's first European trophy since 1980.
Then he came to Crystal Palace. A club that had never won anything in 120 years of existence.
He joined in February 2024, saved them from a difficult season, then led them to their highest ever Premier League points tally.
The following season he did something nobody in South London had ever seen.
He beat Manchester City at Wembley to win Crystal Palace their first ever FA Cup. The first major trophy in the club's 120-year history.
Then he took them to Europe for the first time ever.
Then he took them to a European final.
Tonight in Leipzig he lifted the Conference League trophy.
Then he said goodbye.
A man who survived a brain haemorrhage. Who coached a club nobody believed in. Who gave them their first trophy in 120 years. Then gave them a second one and now a third one on his way out the door.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Oliver Glasner.
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Congratulations Crystal Palace. The last two seasons have been like a fairytale for you lot. FA Cup, community shield and now the Conference League. You can replace Tottenham in the big six.
🚨 Arsenal demanding up to £20m for Gabriel Jesus this summer. Enquiries from multiple clubs for 29yo striker & quoted £18-20m. Brazilian can go as free agent when contract expires in June 2027 but #AFC not considering cheap sale before then @TheAthleticFCnytimes.com/athletic/73129…
🚨 Barcelona reach agreement with Newcastle United to sign Anthony Gordon. #FCBarcelona deal for 25yo winger €80m + future sale % to #NUFC - personal terms fine. Bayern Munich pursed England int’l but #FCBayern unwilling to hit asking price @TheAthleticFCnytimes.com/athletic/64314…
🚨 Anthony Gordon scored just 6 Premier League goals this season.
Marcus Rashford scored more than 6 goals in 7 separate seasons during his time at Man United.
As per the last reports, Barça are willing to pay €70m for Gordon, but not €30m for Rashford.
Jurrien Timber completed first team training today finally. The Dutchman will fly tomorrow with the rest of the squad to Budapest.
Final call to be made tomorrow on matchday squad inclusion.
All the rest is noise, all eyes on Budapest.
🚨 𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥: If Oliver Glasner wins the Conference League tonight, he will have delivered the following trophies to Crystal Palace:
🏆 Conference League
🏆 FA Cup
🏆 Community Shield
You know what’s crazy?
Arsenal bought Trossard because we could not close on Mudryk.
Trossard basically won us the league with his goal at Westham.
Mudryk is still appealing a ban.
Sometimes you have to trust Gods plan and not your plan.
Andrea Berta had one mission this summer and that was to provide Arsenal with a squad ready to put on a serious assault on the Premier League title.
There was a period where you doubted him and I told you to hold tight until the final bell.
He changed our lives. Respect.