Former Manager Shows His True Colours in France
In a scene that warmed the hearts of travelling supporters, former Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira made a surprise appearance in a French pub, joining Eagles fans ahead of his old club's crucial Conference League fixture against Strasbourg. The iconic former Arsenal midfielder, who managed the south London side for nearly two years, was serenaded by the faithful in a display of mutual affection.
A Nostalgic Serenade and Awkward Smiles
The memorable encounter saw Palace supporters break into a familiar chant from Vieira's tenure at Selhurst Park: 'We’ve got super Pat Vieira. He knows exactly what we need. Mitchell at the back, Mateta in attack, Palace on the way to Wembley.' Initially, the Frenchman appeared slightly uncomfortable with the attention, but he quickly warmed to the occasion, responding with a genuine smile, a thumbs-up, and a pat on his shoulder in appreciation.
Vieira's connection to the club remains strong despite his departure in March 2023. During his time in charge from July 2021, he led the team to an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley in 2022 and secured a 12th-place finish in the Premier League. He was subsequently replaced by Roy Hodgson and then Oliver Glasner.
From Palace to a Managerial Rollercoaster
Since leaving Crystal Palace, Vieira's managerial journey has been turbulent. He took the helm at Strasbourg in July 2023 but departed after just one year. His next role was at Italian side Genoa, but that stint also ended after a year, with his exit coming despite a public vote of confidence from club owner Dan Sucu.
Sucu, 62, had stated: 'Here we do not have a plan B, C or D. I have complete confidence in Vieira.' Nevertheless, Vieira departed with the club bottom of Serie A, having overseen 37 matches, recording 10 wins, 12 draws, and 15 defeats across all competitions.
Palace's European Adventure Continues
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace's European campaign presses on, albeit in the Conference League. The team had originally qualified for the Europa League by winning last season's FA Cup but were demoted due to multi-club ownership regulations.
In their current European group, Palace are ninth with a record of two wins and one defeat from their three outings. They have secured victories against Dynamo Kyiv and AZ Alkmaar but suffered a disappointing home loss to AEK Larnaca.
