Crystal Palace Eye “Next Iraola” Inigo Perez As Glasner Exit Looms

Soon to be managerless Crystal Palace are considering recruiting the ‘next Andoni Iraola’ as replacement for Oliver Glasner, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal.

But the Europa Conference League semi-finalists and FA Cup holders can’t hang around if they’re to entice highly rated Inigo Perez from La Liga.

Perez is currently in charge of unfancied Spanish outfit Rayo Vallecano who could be Palace’s final opponents in Leipzig later this month.

Sources in Spain suggest the 38-year-old will be moving to La Liga rivals, Villareal, in the close season.

But having seen the success of compatriot and friend Iraola at Bournemouth, he is thought to be strongly considering offers from England.

And having missed out an opportunity to become Iraola’s assistant with the Cherries because of work permit issues, he won’t allow red tape to block his path this time.

Perez was number two to the Bournemouth chief at Rayo and initially opted not to accept the manager’s job in favour of following Iraola to the Premier League.

Denied his chance, the former Athletic Bilbao forward, who hung up his boots in 2022, took over Rayo in February 2024.

Premier League Appeal

They are currently 11th in La Liga after an eighth-place finish last term. But it is the club’s European campaign that has brought Perez to a wider audience.

They played in Europe only once before-in 2001-but are now 90 minutes away from the final, holding a 1-0 first leg lead over Gary O’Neil’s Strasbourg.

Palace are also looking at Fulham boss Marco Silva to replace German Glasner if the former doesn’t sign his new contract extension. 

And while the Cottagers are keen for Silva to stay at Craven Cottage, they too have identified Perez, described as a meticulous manager, as replacement.

Either way, Perez’s days in charge of Rayo are coming to an end.