6 managers who’d keep Crystal Palace up as Pierre Sage sack decision beckons
Pierre Sage’s time as Crystal Palace manager could be up after a 3-1 loss to Liverpool sank them to the bottom of the Premier League table.
Sunderland beating Chelsea means Palace have been overtaken in the relegation zone and now sit in last spot. Sage’s side have only won one of their last eight games in all competitions and it’s now four losses on the bounce in the league.
The international break is looming and it could be the perfect time for Palace to make a change in the dugout. But who could they attract?
Here are some reasonably realistic options that could get Palace out of their rut and potentially keep them up.
Eddie Howe
One of the most appealing names out there in terms of available managers with a respectable body of work in the Premier League.
The last time Howe was an available manager, after leaving Bournemouth in 2020, he took his time to get the right next job. But when Newcastle came calling in 2021, it turned out to be a match made in heaven.
There were highs and lows in Howe’s time at St. James’ Park as he became the face of a new era under new owners. But he was like a breath of fresh air for the Newcastle faithful who’d grown weary of what was being served up by Steve Bruce.
Howe eventually led Newcastle to their first trophy in decades by winning the EFL Cup in 2025. His reign also included a pair of Champions League qualifications.
His time with Newcastle proved he knows how to take a club struggling at the wrong end of the table and lead them to new heights.
Sure, he wouldn’t have the same kind of financial backing at Palace as he did at Newcastle, but Howe didn’t need it at Bournemouth and worked wonders there.
The only question is whether he’d see Palace as an opportunity or a step below him – especially if there’s a vacancy at Manchester United…
Arne Slot
Again, this might be an ambitious one, but there’s not too much by the way of fresh opportunities for Slot right now after his sacking by Liverpool earlier this year.
It doesn’t seem to be bothering him too much. He recently went on a trip to South America to take in some games at a handful of iconic venues. He’s also believed to have said no to Fulham, AC Milan, Al-Ahli and the Netherlands since leaving Liverpool.
But his reason for rejecting his national team’s job was because of an itch to be coaching day in, day out. Now he’s had a few months out of the game, could he be more tempted now if a club like Palace gave him that chance again?
Palace actually had a look at him in 2023, reportedly making contact with the then-Feyenoord boss when they were looking for a long-term replacement for Patrick Vieira.
Slot, already an Eredivisie winner with Feyenoord by that point, boosted his reputation by winning the Premier League with Liverpool at the first time of asking. His stock dropped with a feeble title defence, but Palace are the kind of club he could prove himself with again.
Sean Dyche
If dreaming of Howe or Slot might be a bit above Palace’s station right now, then it might be time to press the Dyche button.
You know what you’re getting with Dyche and his tactics. Organisation. Discipline. Back to the basics.
Palace have tried to go for more adventurous styles in the past but have sometimes found it better when they’ve gone down the kind of route that Dyche would symbolise.
It may not have worked out for him at Nottingham Forest last season, but the situation there was a mess. It wasn’t all his fault.
At 55, Dyche still has something to give in management if he fancies it. It might not be the most attractive option, but of the realistic ones, it could be one of the most sensible.
Thomas Frank
If Howe or Slot would be too ambitious and Dyche wouldn’t be ambitious enough, Frank might be the happy medium.
His work with Brentford was excellent, helping to establish them as the stable Premier League club they are today. There were times during his reign when he’ll have had to look over his shoulders – and he steered the ship in the right direction.
Tottenham fans will have a different view of Frank’s ability, but if he wants to prove that was just a blip, Palace could be the kind of club to help him get back on track.
Give him time and Frank should be able to deliver some better results, all while building a stable project.
Vitor Pereira
Pereira’s success at keeping Forest up last season should not be overlooked. He was an important factor in them ending the season strongly enough to avoid the danger of the drop.
There’d be a degree of irony if he was to take the Palace job after being replaced by Oliver Glasner, who of course was Sage’s direct predecessor at Selhurst Park.
Ask Palace fans and they’d surely rather have Glasner back after the cup-winning success he enjoyed with them, but that doesn’t look possible right now.
Pereira isn’t a manager to be dismissed from a shortlist so easily. Is he capable of building a long-term project? Maybe not. But he gave Forest a spark when they needed it last season and that’s what Palace could do with now.
Roy Hodgson
If in doubt…
Look, it’s (probably) not going to happen. The man’s retired. Numerous times.
But when Palace have been in bother before, Hodgson has consistently come to their rescue.
He hasn’t managed since his encore of a spell with Bristol City earlier this year and is unlikely to do so again.
For that and various other reasons, it’d be seen as a step backwards to revert to him in a caretaker role again, but if you’re wanting a manager who can keep Palace up, he’s been there and done that.
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