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Oliver Glasner revitalized Crystal Palace with tactical brilliance, positivity, and resilience, leading them to an FA Cup final and historic success.
Sometimes, football teams need more than a tactical shift to turn around a faltering season.
They need belief, energy, and someone brave enough to rip up the old rulebook. When Oliver Glasner walked into Selhurst Park in February 2024, Crystal Palace had not won a game until late October and were drifting aimlessly mid-season.
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Fast forward to May 2025, and the south London side are on the verge of an FA Cup triumph and a historic European qualification.
Glasner’s arrival not only sparked a resurgence in form, but he managed to completely overhaul the club’s mindset, conditioning, and ambition.
His impact has been so transformative that Palace now sit with the sixth-best record in the division since beating Spurs back in October, behind only Liverpool, Newcastle, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Nottingham Forest.
"I'm very pleased," Glasner told BBC Sport.
"Not just with the improvements, but I think with the environment we have created here at the training ground and also in the club."
3. Mental Toughness Born From Setbacks
Palace’s transformation under Glasner was not built overnight. The Austrian had to deal with a squad short on pre-season training, disrupted by summer tournament commitments and late transfer arrivals.
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Despite these hurdles, he instilled a sense of resilience and drive in his players.
"We are very ambitious, everyone is working very hard to progress, and this is the main reason why we are where we are now at the end of the season," Glasner said.
"We are really settled in mid-table and looking at the teams in front of us more than looking at the teams who are behind us."
Having survived a career-ending brain haemorrhage during his playing days, Glasner brings more than tactical expertise to his management.
"Because when you are always moaning, you're always complaining about something, you are always in a negative spiral and you can't enjoy many things," he explained.
"It's more self-protection to have a good and happy life."
2. Tactical Brilliance Coupled with Physical Demand
Glasner’s famous 3-4-2-1 formation allowed him to craft a high-intensity, transitional style of football that outmatched top teams—Palace beat Tottenham twice this season.
"We knew we can play a higher intensity [than City] - all the data showed this," he said after a 2-2 draw.
"There was so much space on the opposite side next to [Ilkay] Gundogan."
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His physical demands on the squad are equally detailed. Co-owner John Textor described him as a manager who pushes players to 120% intensity in training, ensuring they find match day to be "a walk in the park."
1. Unlocking Star Power at the Right Time
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Perhaps the most visible proof of Glasner’s impact is the late-season brilliance of Eberechi Eze. From injuries and disallowed goals to becoming a key playmaker, Eze’s trajectory mirrors the team’s rise.
"It looks like this goal for England [has made a difference]... and since then he has scored many goals, many important goals," Glasner said. "He can do it in the final as well."
Now, with their first FA Cup final since 2016 and nearly every player available, Palace stand 90 minutes away from history.
"We haven't won anything at the moment," Glasner reminded.
"We are looking forward to it and in great shape… Let's see how the final goes."
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