An ‘agreement in principle’ has been reached between Crystal Palace and Patrick Viera for the former Arsenal captain to become the club’s new manager, according to David Ornstein.
Crystal Palace to Appoint Patrick Viera as Manager
Viera Set for First Premier League Job
The Frenchman is set to return to management for the first time since leaving Nice in 2019. The 45-year-old is inexperienced in management, having only taken the reigns at New York City FC previous to his spell in the South East of France.
Having been released from Nice in 2019 after a poor run of form, Viera has been working mostly in media and has been part of ITV’s coverage of the European Championships throughout the tournament.
Palace Appear to Have Finally Found a Willing Candidate
Palace has been in search of a new manager since the release of former manager Roy Hodgson at the end of last season. The club allowed the manager’s contract to expire along with deals of several key players at the end of last season to begin a rebuild. 11 first-team players are set to be released by the club on Thursday.
The London club has been in contact with several available managers throughout the summer about replacing Hodgson. Lucien Favre was also on the verge of joining Palace recently before deciding against the move at the last minute. Nuno Espirito Santo also held talks with Palace over a potential appointment.
Viera understands he was not Palace’s first choice due to a lack of experience and is keen to make a mark on English football. According to The Athletic, Palace had originally considered the likes of Burnley’s Sean Dyche and former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard.
Viera will have some job on his hands to keep Palace on a constant steady road to mid-table finishes.
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