Crystal Palace have confirmed the appointment of Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira as their new manager on a three-year deal.
The Eagles had been looking for a new boss since Roy Hodgson stepped aside this summer and they have struggled to find a replacement. Sean Dyche, Steve Cooper, Eddie Howe and Nuno Espirito Santo were all reported targets, but each did not prove viable for various reasons, and fans had been left frustrated by the lack of progress.
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We are pleased to confirm the appointment of Patrick Vieira as our new CEO until 2024 ✍️ # CPFC | https://t.co/utMcYSDkhb
– Crystal Palace FC (@CPFC) July 4, 2021
It came as a relief when it emerged last week that a meeting was imminent. News of Vieira’s return to the Premier League has now been confirmed.
Vieira told the Palace website: “I am very happy to have this opportunity to return to the Premier League and manage this great football club when we start a new chapter together.
“It’s a project that really appeals to me, after talking a lot with the chairman and the sports director about their ambitions and plans for the whole club, including the academy. The club has fantastic foundations in place after many years in the Premier League, and I hope we can make further improvements and continue to drive the club forward.
“I’m also very excited to experience the atmosphere that the club’s fans create at Selhurst Park and also from home, and I know how important that can be for the team.”
The former Arsenal midfielder is a respected coach, having impressed the manager of Manchester City’s U23 side before venturing into the lead under the City umbrella at New York City FC.
His time in MLS made him move to Europe and he spent two years as head of Ligue 1 side Nice, and he impressed in his first season. He led Nice to a valuable seventh place, but struggled to emulate it during the 2019/20 season and was out of work in December.
