Crystal Palace’s Conference League glory a fitting farewell for Glasner

Crystal Palace beat Rayo Vallecano 1-0 in the UEFA Conference League final to claim their first European trophy – and give manager Oliver Glasner the perfect send-off in his final match in charge of the club.

Jean-Philippe Mateta’s second-half goal in Leipzig was enough for the Eagles to land just the second major piece of silverware in their history, 12 months after they lifted their first by winning the FA Cup.

Glory in Germany was a fitting farewell for Glasner, who announced in January he would leave the club when his contract expired at the end of this season.

The Austrian joined Palace in February 2024 when they were 15th in the Premier League table, five points above the relegation zone.

But he led the club to a top-half finish, before their historic FA Cup triumph the following year, which saw them qualify for their first major European competition – one they have now won.

Glasner, who also lifted the FA Community Shield in August, told TNT Sports: “It was a fantastic evening. This group of players, this club, these fans deserve to win the Conference League. That’s why I’m really, really pleased tonight.

“The players have given me great, incredible days in my life. They trusted in me, they believed in what I told them, and they worked so hard.”

‘One of the best managers Palace has ever had’

On Glasner, midfielder Adam Wharton added: “The difference he has made in two-and-a-half-years is incredible.

“The first three trophies in the history of the club. The first European competition and winning it. He has got to be one of the best managers Palace has ever had.

“He has made a massive difference to how the club looks at competitions now. We are not just looking to stay in the Premier League and be in Europe, we are looking to win it and be as high as possible.”

Palace’s victory over LaLiga’s Rayo at the Red Bull Arena also means they will play in the UEFA Europa League next season, alongside AFC Bournemouth and Sunderland, who qualified by virtue of their Premier League position.

There will now be nine English sides playing European football next season, the same as the record number who competed in continental competitions this campaign.

Palace are the seventh different Premier League team to claim a European trophy in seven years, with Arsenal looking to make it eight on Saturday when they meet Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League final.

Should the Gunners triumph in Budapest, all three European competitions will have been won by Premier League teams, following Aston Villa’s Europa League success last week.

The Eagles are the third English winners of the Conference League – UEFA’s third-tier club competition – since its inception five seasons ago, emulating West Ham United’s triumph in 2023 and Chelsea’s victory last year.

Another European success for Glasner

For Glasner, it is the second time he has tasted European glory, having lifted the Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2023.

While it is a second European trophy in 12 months for Palace winger Brennan Johnson, who scored the winner for Tottenham Hotspur in last season’s Europa League final against Manchester United.

Victory was also sweet for fellow unused Eagles substitute Nathaniel Clyne, who is out of contract in the summer, having come through the club’s academy and made his debut for them in the Championship 18 years ago.

Wharton stars for Palace

The only Palace academy graduate to start on Wednesday night was Tyrick Mitchell, who headed wide from Wharton’s pinpoint cross in the best chance of the first half.

Fresh from his disappointment of missing out on England’s FIFA World Cup squad, Wharton was one of Palace’s most influential players in Germany.

And he created the only goal of the game in the 51st minute when he drove forward and unleashed a powerful shot, which Augusto Batalla palmed into the path of Mateta, who turned in the rebound to send Palace’s travelling supporters wild.

It was a 16th goal in all competitions this season for Mateta, who reportedly nearly joined AC Milan in January, but stayed in south London and has been picked in France’s World Cup squad.

“I feel fantastic,” the matchwinner told TNT Sports. “First time in Europe, we did it. Now I just want to celebrate. I just want to party!

“It’s incredible. We gave everything. I knew about the intensity they would have and I am tired right now. I gave everything. That’s why we won.”

After his goal, Yeremy Pino almost made it two for Palace immediately after, when his curling free-kick hit both posts, before Mateta had another chance well saved by Batalla.

But while the Eagles were unable to add a second goal, it mattered little, as they comfortably saw the match out to give their fans another night to remember, 12 months on from their Wembley win.

“These are special moments with special people,” said captain Dean Henderson. “They are memories that will last a lifetime.

“It is our 60th game of the season. We have had some difficult times, but on nights like this, the boys delivered.

“It is a fairytale. The manager has been incredible and deserves his send-off. This is how it should have ended.”

Palace chairman Steve Parish added: “To win an FA Cup, a Community Shield, and then to come into Europe and win a European title at the first time of asking is just an incredible achievement.

“It means everything. It’s all of our dreams come true. Now we have got a taste for it and we want to keep it going.”