Crystal Palace are reportedly keen on appointing Lille head coach Paulo Fonseca as their next manager when Roy Hodgson leaves.
Ignazio Genuardi has revealed that Crystal Palace are considering a move for 50-year-old Italian manager Paulo Fonseca, who is currently managing Ligue 1 club Lille. Roy Hodgson is 76 years old, and he will need to be replaced soon.
Paulo Fonseca has previously shown his quality at clubs like AS Roma and Shakhtar Donetsk. There is no doubt that he could prove to be a quality acquisition for Crystal Palace if they manage to get the deal done.
Lille have played an exciting brand of attacking football under Fonseca’s management, and he could be the ideal manager for Crystal Palace next season.
The Eagles have a number of talented young attacking players like Odsonne Edouard, Michael Olise, and Eberechi Eze at their disposal. Fonseca could get the best out of them and help Crystal Palace perform at a high level.
Alors que West Ham était notamment venu aux nouvelles l’été dernier, le Lillois #Fonseca garde la cote en Premier League. #Crystal #Palace est aujourd’hui intéressé par le Portugais, Hodgson (76 ans) n’étant pas éternel. #Mercato #LOSC
— Ignazio Genuardi (@IgnazioGenuardi) October 9, 2023
The opportunity to manage in the Premier League can be an attractive proposition for any manager, and Fonseca is likely to be tempted if there is a concrete proposal from Crystal Palace on the table.
The Eagles have the potential to push for a top-half finish, and there is no reason why Fonseca cannot help them climb up the table. They have a number of quality players, and Fonseca will have the bones of a very good squad if he joins the club. With the right additions, Crystal Palace could easily move into the top half and push for European football in the coming seasons.
Roy Hodgson has done an impressive job at Crystal Palace since taking over form Patrick Vieira. But he is clearly in the twilight stages of his managerial career, meaning Crystal Palace will need to plan for a future without him.
Fonseca seems like the ideal candidate, and he has proven himself across multiple leagues, including Ligue 1. Palace have the more resources compared to Lille, and the 50-year-old will have an exciting challenge ahead of himself at the London club. It remains to be seen whether Hodgson can guide Crystal Palace to a respectable finish this season and depart on a high.
