Oliver Glasner will manage Crystal Palace for the last time on May 27, 2026, as the team faces Rayo Vallecano in the Europa Conference League final in Leipzig, Germany [1, 2, 3]. Glasner, 51, took over as Palace manager in 2024 and has overseen a period of unprecedented success for the club, including winning the FA Cup in his first full season—the club's first major trophy in 120 years [1, 2, 3]. Earlier this season, Palace also claimed the Community Shield by defeating Liverpool [1, 2, 3].
Palace was initially barred from competing in European tournaments the previous year due to UEFA's multi-club ownership rules despite their FA Cup win [1, 2, 3]. A win in the upcoming final would secure their first European trophy and qualify them for next season's Europa League [1, 2, 3]. Rayo Vallecano, their opponents, narrowly missed Europa Conference League qualification in La Liga, finishing just behind Getafe [1, 2, 3].
Glasner announced in January 2026 that he would leave the club at season's end, reportedly over disagreements with the club’s transfer policy [1, 2, 3]. Despite a troubling 12-game winless streak up to February, chairman Steve Parish publicly reaffirmed his confidence in Glasner and retained him in charge [1, 2, 3]. Glasner urged fans to "stay humble" and "never forget where you're coming from" during the season, comments which drew mixed reactions from supporters [1, 2, 3].
Known for sudden success followed by fallout with club management, Glasner’s previous stints include leading Eintracht Frankfurt to their 2022 Europa League title and a German Cup final in 2023 before departing amid disputes [1, 2, 3]. Reflecting on his final game, Glasner said, "I would always feel I had failed if the team had dropped off (after his announcement), because I told them ‘You don’t need to play for a manager’. It would be a perfect ending. When you watch a movie, when you read a book, you always hope that there is a happy ending. To end this more than two-year journey with another trophy, with the first European trophy in Crystal Palace’s history, that would be incredible" [1].
Glasner’s final match at Crystal Palace may define his legacy at the club after 120 years without significant trophies, with the Europa Conference League final set as the culminating event of his tenure [1, 2, 3].