England assistant manager Anthony Barry is the leading candidate to replace under-pressure boss Pierre Sage at Crystal Palace.
Crystal Palace are eyeing England assistant Anthony Barry as a potential replacement for manager Pierre Sage, according to the Daily Mirror, after a disappointing start to their Premier League season.
No formal decision has been made on Sage’s future, and the results of the club’s upcoming fixtures could prove decisive. He has struggled to make the desired impact since arriving at Palace, with the Eagles losing six of their first nine Premier League matches.
His overall record stands at five wins, two draws and seven defeats in 14 games, leaving the club battling near the bottom of the table. While Palace have shown encouraging signs in cup competitions, their league performances have raised serious concerns.
The club hierarchy will be desperate to see an improvement before deciding whether a managerial change is necessary. The Eagles face Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday before hosting Liverpool in the Premier League on Sunday. Those fixtures may determine Sage’s future.
Why Crystal Palace are keen on Barry?
Barry’s sustained work under Thomas Tuchel, widely regarded as a top tactical innovator, has positioned him as an attractive prospect for clubs seeking a young, analytically-minded coach, though his lack of senior management experience presents an obvious risk.
Barry, a 40-year-old former assistant manager at Chelsea and Bayern Munich, has never managed a senior side despite his elite pedigree. While he is signed with England until the 2028 European Championship, the opportunity to take charge of Palace could offer him a route into management. Managing a club in the Premier League might be too big an opportunity for him to turn down.
Appointing Barry would be a calculated gamble: his elite coaching experience at Chelsea, Bayern, and international level has prepared him for high-level tactical planning and player management, but leading a Premier League club through a campaign would be an entirely different test.
Palace may view his pedigree as valuable foundations for a managerial career. The coming fixtures against Hoffenheim and Liverpool before the international break will be crucial to Sage’s position; if Palace’s results do not improve, Barry could be formally approached.
