Vieira flies the Eagles' nest

Patrick Vieira

Friday Mar 17, 2023. 14:45

Patrick Vieira has become the ninth managerial casualty of the 2022-23 Premier League season after being sacked by Crystal Palace on Friday.

The former France international, who was born in Dakar, Senegal but emigrated to Dreux with his family at the age of eight, has paid the price for a poor run of results in 2023.

Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat at Brighton left the Eagles without a win in their last 11 games and the club’s board took the “difficult decision” to relieve Vieira of his duties just two days before the trip to league leaders Arsenal.

The 46-year-old succeeded Roy Hodgson at the helm in July 2021 and guided Palace to a 12th-placed finish in his first season at Selhurst Park, which was an improvement on the previous campaign.

However, Vieira picked up just six wins from 27 matches this term and departs with the team sitting three points above the relegation zone in 12th position.

First-team coaches Osian Roberts, Kristian Wilson and Said Aigoun have also left the club, although Dean Kiely has been retained as goalkeeping coach.

“It is with enormous regret that this difficult decision has been made. Ultimately, results in recent months have placed us in a precarious league position and we felt a change is necessary to give us the best chance of retaining Premier League status,” Eagles chairman Steve Parish said in a statement.

“That said, Patrick’s impact since joining us in the summer of 2021 has been significant, and he is held in the highest regard by myself, and all of his colleagues.

“He led the team to a Wembley FA Cup semi-final and respectable 12th-placed finish last season playing some exciting football, which was a challenging and crucial campaign for the club given the changes we made to the squad prior to his arrival.

“Patrick has given his all to the club, and we all thank him and his team for their service. We also wish Patrick, Osian, Kristian and Said the very best for their futures.”