Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace

Premier League • England

Next Crystal Palace boss: Steve Parish has ‘already found’ Hodgson successor in two-time league winner

Managers Adi Hutter and Lucien Favre

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish has already identified the manager he wants to replace Roy Hodgson at Selhurst Park in the summer, according to a report.

Former Arsenal Premier League title winner Patrick Vieira replaced Roy Hodgson in July 2021. The Eagles did well during Vieira’s first season in charge and managed to finish in 12th place on 48 points.

However, Vieira was sacked by Palace on March 17. That came after the team had failed to pick up a victory in their previous 12 matches.

At the time of Vieira’s departure, Palace occupied 12th spot, the same position they had achieved the season before. However, they were just three points above the relegation zone.

Surprisingly, Parish turned to Hodgson and appointed the 75-year-old on an interim basis lasting until the end of the season.

Hodgson has done well on his return to the south London side, helping them to pick up three straight wins. They have beaten Leicester, Leeds and Southampton and now have a nine-point advantage on the bottom three.

According to a recent report in The Telegraph, Palace want Hodgson to remain at the club beyond this summer and mentor his replacement. Parish believes this would help the next manager to learn about the club and get used to the squad.

And there has now been a major update on who that manager might be. As per Fussball Transfers, who cite Austrian outlet Kurier, Palace have ‘already found’ their new coach in Adi Hutter.

Palace identify next manager

The report adds that Klaus Schmidt, who is currently the boss of Austrian minnows SCR Altach, will join Palace as Hutter’s assistant.

It would not be a surprise if Hutter tried himself out in the Premier League next season. Earlier this month he told Kicker that his ‘big goal’ is to manage in the English top flight, adding that he and his agent are ‘working on’ such a move. Plus, Palace were backed to appoint Hutter on March 23.

Palace now seem prepared to give the 53-year-old his first stint in the Prem.

Adi Hutter

Hutter has decent pedigree, having won the Austrian Bundesliga title with Red Bull Salzburg in 2014-15 and the Swiss top flight with Young Boys three years later.

Following his time at Young Boys, Hutter tried himself out in the German Bundesliga by managing Eintracht Frankfurt and then Borussia Monchengladbach.

The coach did reasonably well at Frankfurt, guiding them to a fifth-place finish during his last season at the Waldstadion.

Hutter spent last campaign at Gladbach. However, he ended up leaving by mutual consent after the club disappointingly finished 10th in the table.

The former midfielder will be hoping to get his career back on track by impressing at Palace next, should his move to Selhurst Park reach completion. It would be great if Hutter could get the side into the top 10, something they have not managed since the 2014-15 season.

Meanwhile, a report claims Crystal Palace are preparing to scout a Brazilian midfielder ‘tonight’, although Arsenal are ready to do the exact same thing.