Could Oliver Glasner get the perfect Crystal Palace goodbye?

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It's been a remarkable 12 months for Crystal Palace

They never wanted to find themselves in the Conference League. Now they stand one match away from winning it and adding another remarkable chapter to the club’s history.

Author | James Lees

On one of the most memorable nights Selhurst Park has witnessed, amid a fierce and deafening atmosphere, the Eagles defeated Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 to complete a 5-2 aggregate victory in the semi-finals.

Having already lifted the FA Cup and Community Shield in 2025 at Wembley, Palace’s extraordinary European adventure began in a Swiss courtroom, where they unsuccessfully appealed against their demotion from the Europa League into the third-tier Conference League.

Since then, however, Glasner’s side have embraced the competition completely.

Their journey has taken them across Norway, Poland, France, the Republic of Ireland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus and Italy, before a return trip to Poland. One final destination now awaits in Germany.

Should Palace defeat Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig on Wednesday 27 May, after the Spanish side overcame Strasbourg 2-0 on aggregate in the other semi-final, it would cap the most successful period in the club’s history.

For Oliver Glasner, who is set to depart this summer despite only arriving in February 2024, a third trophy in little more than a year is now within touching distance.

Glassner spoke to TNT Sports after the semi-final

A golden period for the club since Glasner took over

Since Crystal Palace were formed in 1905, silverware has been a rarity.

Until recently, it could have been argued that the club’s finest achievement came in 1991, when Ian Wright scored twice in a 4-1 victory over Everton at Wembley to secure the Zenith Data Systems Cup.

Now, however, Palace supporters have enjoyed 12 months unlike any other in the club’s history.

Eberechi Eze scored the goal that sealed a 1-0 FA Cup final victory over Manchester City, delivering the first major trophy in Palace’s history, before the Community Shield followed after a penalty shootout triumph against reigning Premier League champions Liverpool.

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