- The best Crystal Palace stars of Oliver Glasner’s era
- Ismaila Sarr and Jean-Philippe Mateta included
- Recognition of unsung heroes such as Tyrick Mitchell
Oliver Glasner has enjoyed the most successful reign of any manager in Crystal Palace’s history. The Austrian arrived as Roy Hodgson’s replacement in February 2024 and was tasked with pushing the Eagles up the Premier League table.
Nobody imagined that two years later, the Eagles would have an FA Cup in the trophy cabinet along with a Community Shield. The 51-year-old is leaving Selhurst Park at the end of the season but could add a UEFA Conference League to his list of achievements.
Glasner has been the figurehead of Palace’s most successful era, but he has also been helped by his players. Eberechi Eze scored the winner in the FA Cup final win over Manchester City, while Ismaila Sarr has fired the South Londoners towards European glory.
With that said, Read Crystal Palace have assessed and ranked the top 10 stars who have shone brightest under Glasner. Factors include legacy, impact, and statistics.
10 – Tyrick Mitchell
Tasked with moving into a left wing-back in Oliver Glasner’s system, the Englishman has flourished. Nothing seems to faze the 26-year-old who reached 200 appearances in Palace colours in March.
Mitchell is defensively sound and a bundle of energy going forward on the left flank. He has come up with important moments including a goal in the 3-0 win over Fiorentina in the Conference League quarter-finals.
“T was always one of the best defenders in the Premier League and I think he improved his attacking game massively not just by scoring goals and getting assists, but also really being a constant threat to the opposition” – Oliver Glasner
| Tyrick Mitchell under Oliver Glasner | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Appearances: | 107 |
| Goals: | 4 |
| Assists: | 10 |
| Achievements: | FA Cup, Community Shield |
9 – Maxence Lacroix
Glasner knew Maxence Lacroix from his time coaching the French defender at VfL Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga. Palace’s decision to reunite them at Selhurst Park has more than paid off.
Lacroix has been faultless throughout his spell with the Eagles and has taken over a leadership role from Marc Guehi this season. The 26-year-old plays with high intensity and speaks passionately, embodying the spirit of the club’s devoted fanbase.
“He plays incredible, so consistent. The level he is showing is really high and we can rely on him” – Oliver Glasner
| Maxence Lacroix under Oliver Glasner | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Appearances: | 93 |
| Goals: | 4 |
| Assists: | 4 |
| Achievements: | FA Cup, Community Shield |
8 – Daichi Kamada
If you look up resurgence in the Palace dictionary, a picture of Daichi Kamada should appear. The Japanese midfielder found it tough in the early stages of his spell in South London with question marks over Glasner’s decision to sign him.
Another member of Glasner’s squad who previously played under him at Eintracht Frankfurt. The 29-year-old has become a fan favourite and a key man in the middle of the park, producing outstanding displays in the FA Cup-winning campaign and the ongoing Conference League.
“Normally I don’t like to praise an individual player, but I think he deserves it” – Oliver Glasner
| Daichi Kamada under Oliver Glasner | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Appearances: | 83 |
| Goals: | 3 |
| Assists: | 8 |
| Achievements: | FA Cup, Community Shield |
7 – Adam Wharton
Watching Adam Wharton grow into one of the most highly-regarded midfielders in the Premier League has been a joy for Palace fans. The English Busquets plays with such class and shows maturity beyond his years.
Signed from Blackburn Rovers in February 2024, the 22-year-old arrived just weeks before Glasner. It’s fair to say that their arrivals have been two of the most important in the club’s history.
“He has such quality: his pre-orientation, passing forwards. Not just on the pitch, but also in his head, he is a great player” – Oliver Glasner
| Adam Wharton under Oliver Glasner | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Appearances: | 87 |
| Goals: | 0 |
| Assists: | 12 |
| Achievements: | FA Cup, Community Shield |
6 – Dean Henderson
What a ride Dean Henderson has been on since joining Palace from Manchester United in the summer of 2023. You could argue he’s proven he deserves to be England’s number one, but nevertheless, he is unmovable between the sticks for Glasner.
Henderson has put in world-class performances and plenty of saves that deserve their own highlight reel. The most crucial being when the 29-year-old stopped Omar Marmoush’s penalty in the FA Cup final win at Wembley.
“We know that he is a great goalkeeper… It’s an easy summary we needed a great goalkeeper, and we had a great goalkeeper with Dean Henderson” – Oliver Glasner
| Dean Henderson under Oliver Glasner | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Appearances: | 100 |
| Clean Sheets: | 36 |
| Achievements: | FA Cup, Community Shield |
5 – Daniel Munoz
It’s quite remarkable how quickly Daniel Munoz adapted to Premier League football, thriving from the moment he joined Palace. A marauding Colombian wing-back who fits Glasner’s system like a glove.
Munoz loves to bomb forward and help out in attack, producing inch-perfect crosses into the box. He is also a brave presence at the back, constantly putting out fires with his never-say-die approach.
“Daniel has an outstanding training mentality. Every training session he’s the guy who’s running most, who’s sprinting most” – Oliver Glasner
| Daniel Munoz under Oliver Glasner | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Appearances: | 99 |
| Goals: | 11 |
| Assists: | 15 |
| Achievements: | FA Cup, Community Shield |
4 – Jean-Philippe Mateta
Jean-Philippe Mateta’s transformation under Glasner has led to a boom for the French frontman. There hasn’t been a more improved player during the Austrian’s reign.
Whether it’s scoring a thunderbolt such as his strike in a 2-2 draw against Arsenal or coming up trumps with a header, he has been sensational. Thankfully he still has the chance to become a European champion with the Eagles and to potentially bid farewell alongside Glasner this summer.
“He’s scored so many important goals for us. He had a tough period… He’s a lovely person first and foremost and a great footballer” – Oliver Glasner
| Jean-Philippe Mateta under Oliver Glasner | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Appearances: | 103 |
| Goals: | 43 |
| Assists: | 8 |
| Achievements: | FA Cup, Community Shield |
3 – Marc Guehi
A proper captain who didn’t just lead the team by example but put in some of the best defensive displays of any player during Glasner’s reign. Marc Guehi wore the Palace badge with pride and rightfully earned his way into the England national team.
While Guehi might have moved on in January, it was clear how much he meant to Glasner. The Austrian forced Steve Parish to pull the plug on a deadline day switch to Liverpool last summer.
“Thank you to Marc. We were always very close and talking a lot, and all the rumours didn’t influence his performance, his mood, his professionality” – Oliver Glasner
| Marc Guehi under Oliver Glasner | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Appearances: | 80 |
| Goals: | 6 |
| Assists: | 6 |
| Achievements: | FA Cup, Community Shield |
2 – Eberechi Eze
Palace supporters watched Eberechi Eze grow from a young prospect and into one of English football’s top attacking talents. It was during Glasner’s tenure that he truly put his name up in lights.
Eze’s winner in the FA Cup final win will forever be cherished by fans and Glasner. There were no hard feelings when he left for Arsenal as he has the chance to deservedly become a Premier League champion.
“When we needed Ebs in the crunch time, he was there. That’s what I will always remember, with great players, when you need them they are always there. Great players never hide, we could count on Ebs in the very important games, this is what he gave to the team and to Crystal Palace” – Oliver Glasner
| Eberechi Eze under Oliver Glasner | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Appearances: | 56 |
| Goals: | 20 |
| Assists: | 14 |
| Achievements: | FA Cup, Community Shield |
1 – Ismaila Sarr
Not much was made of Palace’s acquisition of Ismaila Sarr from Marseille back in August 2024. Nobody envisioned he’d become the hero he has in front of the Holmesdale End.
Sarr isn’t just statistically the best player of Glasner’s reign; he’s proving himself to be arguably the best signing in club history. And he’s not done yet, solidifying himself as the best of the lot from such a magical era; he is firing the Eagles to Conference League glory.
“He’s getting better and better. He shows why we signed him and he gets all the credit” – Oliver Glasner
| Ismaila Sarr under Oliver Glasner | Statistic |
|---|---|
| Appearances: | 86 |
| Goals: | 30 |
| Assists: | 10 |
| Achievements: | Conference League Golden Boot, FA Cup, Community Shield |
