Soccer
Oliver Glasner hails 'great' Crystal Palace as he leaves club a Conference League champion
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Oliver Glasner led Crystal Palace to one more victory on Wednesday, and it was his biggest one yet.
The outgoing manager helmed the Eagles to a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano in the UEFA Conference League final, helping the South London side claim another trophy under his watch.
Jean-Philippe Mateta scored the game's only goal in the 50th minute as Palace stormed out of the halftime break a new team, and it was enough to put an exclamation point on an otherwise disappointing campaign.
"The game was how we expected but I think we played an incredible 15 minutes after halftime," Glasner told TNT Sports. "We defended so well at the end. A fantastic evening, this group of players and fans deserve it."
Glasner made the decision to leave Palace back in October and announced his impending departure in January, following the sale of high profile players such as Eberechi Eze and Marc Guehi. Despite publicly criticizing the club's senior officials for their transfer policy, Glasner remained on for the rest of the campaign and added another piece of silverware to the Eagles' trophy case.
Yet despite his impact, the Austrian was not prepared to take credit for the successes Palace enjoyed during his watch, including last season's FA Cup and the 2025 FA Community Shield.
"I see myself as part of the group," Glasner said. "As a manager, you cannot do anything alone. You need great staff and especially you need great players and people. This is what this group is.
"They always stick together and work hard. Since day one, we have created the mindset that everything is possible if you work hard."
However, one of Palace's most notable players, 22-year-old midfielder Adam Wharton, did not mince words when reflecting on the impact Glasner has had on the club since taking over in 2024.
"The difference he has made in two-and-a-half years is incredible," Wharton said of his manager. "Three trophies for Palace, the first three in the history of the club. First European competition and winning it. Unbelievable.
"He has got to be one of the best managers Palace have ever had. He has made a massive difference for how the club looks at competitions. We are not just looking to stay in the Premier League and be in Europe, we are looking to win it and be as high as possible."
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