Crystal Palace hold talks with title-winning manager as Andoni Iraola rival emerges

Crystal Palace have held talks with a title-winning manager as they face competition in pursuit of top target Andoni Iraola, according to reports.

Palace identify Andoni Iraola as dream Oliver Glasner replacement

Palace’s search for a new manager is entering a critical phase, and the clock is ticking louder by the day.

The Conference League final against Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig is less than 10 days away — one of the biggest occasions in the club’s history — and Steve Parish still does not have a permanent successor to Oliver Glasner in place.

Whoever takes the job will inherit a squad that won the FA Cup last year, lifted the Community Shield, and is now on the brink of European silverware.

The opportunity is significant, but so is the complexity of getting the right man through the door.

Iraola has been Palace’s number one target from the outset.

The Bournemouth boss confirmed in April that he will leave at the end of the season, and Palace moved quickly to make their interest known.

Everything about his profile fits what the club wants next, with Iraola on the brink of making history himself at the Vitality Stadium after a stellar few years at the Cherries.

However, the pursuit has not been straightforward.

Palace have reportedly been turned down by Iraola twice already, despite reports that the Spaniard is genuinely tempted by Selhurst Park as a landing spot, and the competition for his signature is intensifying.

Crystal Palace hold talks with Filipe Luis as Andoni Iraola rival emerges

Chelsea were circling for weeks before settling on Xabi Alonso, but according to talkSPORT, Bayer Leverkusen have now emerged as serious contenders for Iraola’s signature.

The Bundesliga club are expected to part ways with Kasper Hjulmand after a disappointing sixth-place finish — a sharp decline from the unbeaten title-winning campaign under Alonso two seasons ago — and Iraola is understood to be one of the names at the top of their list.

Amid the stiff competition for him, Palace have been working on alternatives, and talkSPORT also report that they have held discussions with Filipe Luis about the role.

The 40-year-old Brazilian could be seen as one of the most exciting young coaches in world football.

As a player, he spent eight years at Atlético Madrid across two spells and a season at Chelsea in between — winning La Liga and reaching a Champions League final under Diego Simeone before returning to Brazil with Flamengo.

He retired at the end of 2023 and immediately moved into coaching, taking charge of Flamengo’s youth sides before being handed the first-team job in September of that year.

What followed was extraordinary.

In just 18 months, Luis won seven trophies — including the Copa Libertadores, the Brasileirao, the Copa do Brasil and the Supercopa — and averaged an impressive 2.10 points per game across 112 matches.

He became the ninth person in history to win the Copa Libertadores as both a player and a coach, and was widely regarded as the most promising managerial talent to emerge from South American football in years.

His departure from Flamengo in early March was as dramatic as his tenure.

Sacked hours after overseeing an 8-0 semi-final victory, the decision was reportedly driven by boardroom politics rather than any decline in performance.

Since then, he has been a free agent, and the interest has been growing.

Fabrizio Romano has identified him as a name to watch across the European managerial market this summer, and he is believed to be working towards obtaining his UEFA Pro Licence, which would be required to manage in England.

For Palace, the appeal is obvious.

Luis brings a winning mentality and a track record of getting the best out of talented squads — all qualities that would translate well to the Premier League.

However, some would also say it is a major step up from South America, and Luis is largely inexperienced when compared to other candidates like Iraola.