Oliver Glasner makes an emotional return to Selhurst Park on Sunday, managing Nottingham Forest against the Crystal Palace side he led to three trophies. The Austrian left the Eagles upon the expiry of his contract at the end of June, taking over at Forest just one week later.
His tenure in south London, which began in February 2024, delivered the club's greatest modern success. Glasner guided Palace to win the FA Cup in 2025 by beating Manchester City, secured the Europa Conference League with a 1-0 victory over Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig, and added the Community Shield that same year.
His departure and swift move to a Premier League rival, however, has created a complex legacy. The situation was exacerbated when Nottingham Forest took Palace's place in the 2025-26 Europa League after the Eagles were demoted to the Conference League due to a UEFA multi-club ownership rules breach.
Fan sentiment ahead of the reunion is divided. One Palace supporter said on social media, "He deserves a great reception to give our thanks for his and the club's achievements." Another countered, "He lost me in that last year when he started sprouting all sorts of rubbish to protect brand Glasner."
The fixture arrives with both clubs seeking momentum. Crystal Palace sit 15th in the Premier League standings with just four points from their opening five games, having scored only 4 goals and conceded 11. Their last outing was a 2-0 home defeat to Bristol City. Forest, Glasner's new side, are 13th with an identical record of one win from five, but have scored 8 goals. The last meeting between the sides in February ended in a 1-1 draw at the City Ground. After this match, Palace's next fixtures see them travel to face Chelsea.
Off-field tensions persist, with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis suing Crystal Palace over a banner displayed by home supporters last season. On the pitch, Palace will be desperate to improve their defensive form. The match kicks off at Selhurst Park on Sunday, 11 October.
The report in full is at standard.co.uk
