Premier League: Patrick Vieira sacked by Crystal Palace

Frenchman Patrick Vieira has been sacked from his coaching position at Crystal Palace, the club announced on Friday, finishing 12th in the English league, just three points clear of the red zone.

“The results over the past few months have left us in a league quandary and we felt changes were needed to give us a better chance of staying in the Premier League,” London club chairman Steve Lee said in a statement.

“Patrick’s influence (since his arrival) has been significant,” said Steve Parish. “He led the team to the FA Cup semi-finals and a respectable 12th place last season thanks to inspiring football.”

But this season the situation is more complicated. Crystal Palace have not yet won in 2023, and his 46-year-old manager has come under more and more pressure in recent weeks: he is just three lengths ahead of relegation first-team Bournemouth (24 points).

The former midfielder, 1998 world champion and 2000 European champion with the Blues, arrived in July 2021 at the head of the Eagles on a three-year contract to resume his coaching career in the league, where he made a name for himself and became a record holder. player.

At Arsenal (1996-2005), he became one of the best defensive midfielders in the world, as well as the idol of the London club, which he captained with three English titles (1998, 2002, 2004) and four FA Cup victories.

Also in England, he began his coaching career as development manager at Manchester City, then managed the club’s reserve team where he played last season in 2010-2011.

Vieira then made his debut in 2016 as head coach of New York City Football Club, one of the city’s galaxy satellite clubs, in the North American Championship (MLS).

He returned to France in 2018 to take over OGC Nice, a 30-month experience with mixed results despite good 7th and 5th places in Ligue 1.