Oliver Glasner spent the last two and a half seasons managing Crystal Palace. During that time, he guided the club to a record 53 points in the 2024/25 Premier League campaign. He also won the FA Cup and the Conference League.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Dylan Grady looks at how the 51-year-old Austrian can continue that success with Nottingham Forest.
Parish fallout and Marinakis importance
During last season’s October international break, Glasner told Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish that he would not sign a new contract.
Palace made the decision public in January. Parish then told fans that Glasner would leave the club at the end of his contract.
Glasner often shared his views on the club’s situation. His strongest comments came during the winter transfer window.
After Palace lost 2-1 to Sunderland, Glasner said, “I feel we are being abandoned completely.”
He also criticised the timing of Marc Guéhi’s move to Manchester City.
“The worst thing is selling our captain one day before playing a Premier League game,” Glasner said.
In February, the Austrian also expressed his frustration with the squad.
“I’m just not good enough to replace the players we sold,” he said.
These comments highlighted growing tension between Glasner and the Palace board. Parish appeared to be at the centre of that disagreement.
Once his Palace contract ended, several European clubs showed interest in Glasner. AC Milan, Everton and other Premier League clubs reportedly considered him.
However, Glasner eventually chose Nottingham Forest.
The significance of Morgan Gibbs-White
Glasner knows Morgan Gibbs-White well after facing him several times during his Palace spell.
The Forest midfielder has become one of the club’s most important players. He scored 15 league goals last season and played a major role in Forest’s campaign.
Gibbs-White joined Forest from Wolves in the summer of 2022 for a reported £40 million.
Since then, he has become a key attacking player at the City Ground. His creativity and goals have made him central to Forest’s plans.
After watching a pre-season training session in the Algarve, Glasner spoke about the midfielder’s importance.
“Without Morgan’s goals, Forest would probably have been relegated because Chris Wood was injured for so many months,” Glasner said.
“He’s definitely very important. He has a very high influence in the team and can make a difference.”
Gibbs-White looked close to leaving Forest for Tottenham last summer. However, a late change of direction kept him at the club.
That decision proved important for Forest. The club reached the Europa League semi-finals before losing to eventual champions and Midlands rivals Aston Villa.
How Forest are shaping up
Forest have made a relatively quiet start to the transfer window. The club has not made many additions so far.
One important arrival is Xaver Schlager from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig.
Glasner already knows the Austrian midfielder. The pair previously worked together at VfL Wolfsburg.
Schlager played under Glasner for two seasons. Their time together included Wolfsburg’s impressive 2020/21 campaign.
The German club finished fourth in the Bundesliga that season. As a result, Wolfsburg qualified for the Champions League.
Schlager also brings European experience to Forest. He has played 19 Champions League matches for RB Leipzig and Red Bull Salzburg.
The midfielder has also won four Austrian Bundesliga titles. His honours include the DFB Pokal and the German Super Cup.
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