Patrick Vieira @Crystal Palace: WK 38 - Big Pat takes CP to 12th to end season CP 1 - MU 0 (W11 D15 L12, 48pts)
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2021 4:16 pm
https://www.theguardian.com/football/20 ... ce-manager
Patrick Vieira relishing ‘new chapter’ as Crystal Palace manager
Former Arsenal captain signs three-year deal at Selhurst Park
Patrick Vieira has said that Crystal Palace’s “ambition and plans for the future” convinced him to become Roy Hodgson’s successor, after the appointment of the former Arsenal captain on a three-year deal was confirmed on Sunday.
Vieira – who has been out of work since being sacked in December by Nice - was originally interviewed in April after expressing his interest in replacing Hodgson at Selhurst Park, only to be overlooked initially.
Yet after the breakdown of talks with Nuno Espírito Santo because of concerns over his demands and then the withdrawal of Lucien Favre following a last-minute change of mind, the Palace co-chairman, Steve Parish, and the sporting director, Dougie Freedman, returned to the man who captained Arsenal during their “Invincibles” season in 2003-04 and won 107 caps for France during an illustrious playing career.
“It’s a project that is really appealing to me, having spoken a lot with the chairman and sporting director about their ambition and plans for the whole club including the academy,” Vieira said.
“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 the club’s supporters make at Selhurst Park and away from home too, and I know just how important that can be for the team.”
Having begun his coaching career at Manchester City after retiring in 2011, Vieira spent four years managing City’s elite development squad before taking his first senior post at the MLS side New York City in 2016. While Favre – who left Borussia Dortmund in December having also previously managed Nice – would have represented a more experienced option than the 45-year-old Vieira, with pre-season training due to start on Monday and with several first-team players now out of contract, Parish acknowledged Vieira has no time to waste.
“I’m delighted and excited that Patrick has agreed to join Crystal Palace as our manager following successfully learning his trade at the City Group, and experiencing positive managerial spells at New York City and then Nice, who he led to the Europa League,” he said.
“We have a lot to do to prepare in the coming weeks and I look forward to working closely with Patrick and Dougie in bringing in some new faces to help us all to a successful season.”
Patrick Vieira relishing ‘new chapter’ as Crystal Palace manager
Former Arsenal captain signs three-year deal at Selhurst Park
Patrick Vieira has said that Crystal Palace’s “ambition and plans for the future” convinced him to become Roy Hodgson’s successor, after the appointment of the former Arsenal captain on a three-year deal was confirmed on Sunday.
Vieira – who has been out of work since being sacked in December by Nice - was originally interviewed in April after expressing his interest in replacing Hodgson at Selhurst Park, only to be overlooked initially.
Yet after the breakdown of talks with Nuno Espírito Santo because of concerns over his demands and then the withdrawal of Lucien Favre following a last-minute change of mind, the Palace co-chairman, Steve Parish, and the sporting director, Dougie Freedman, returned to the man who captained Arsenal during their “Invincibles” season in 2003-04 and won 107 caps for France during an illustrious playing career.
“It’s a project that is really appealing to me, having spoken a lot with the chairman and sporting director about their ambition and plans for the whole club including the academy,” Vieira said.
“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 the club’s supporters make at Selhurst Park and away from home too, and I know just how important that can be for the team.”
Having begun his coaching career at Manchester City after retiring in 2011, Vieira spent four years managing City’s elite development squad before taking his first senior post at the MLS side New York City in 2016. While Favre – who left Borussia Dortmund in December having also previously managed Nice – would have represented a more experienced option than the 45-year-old Vieira, with pre-season training due to start on Monday and with several first-team players now out of contract, Parish acknowledged Vieira has no time to waste.
“I’m delighted and excited that Patrick has agreed to join Crystal Palace as our manager following successfully learning his trade at the City Group, and experiencing positive managerial spells at New York City and then Nice, who he led to the Europa League,” he said.
“We have a lot to do to prepare in the coming weeks and I look forward to working closely with Patrick and Dougie in bringing in some new faces to help us all to a successful season.”
