New Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has been warned he will be “bombarded with stereotypes” in the Premier League.
That’s according to PULS 24 expert Johnny Ertl anyway, who has first-hand experience of playing in England as an Austrian.
Glasner was confirmed as the new Crystal Palace manager earlier this week, replacing Roy Hodgson, who has elected to step away from his role at Selhurst Park following a difficult few months in charge.
There is big anticipation around Glasner’s arrival, with the Austrian coach arriving after a successful spell at Eintracht Frankfurt that saw them win the Europa League under his management.
He’s been out of work since leaving the German side last summer but had, at one point in his career, been linked with the Bayern Munich position, an optimistic sign for Crystal Palace fans.
The question is whether he can translate his success in Germany to success in England, with the two leagues very distinctive and that task proving a difficult one for various managers.
The pressure is certainly on and Ertl knows Glasner will face certain stereotypes, having played for Crystal Palace himself during his playing career.
“Every Austrian who works abroad is very important for the country, for its image abroad,” he said.
“When I came to England like I did back then that was very clear, I was an Austrian skier with lederhosen, okay. The English market is the biggest in the world and we’re still exotic.
“It’s already super profitable. He’ll certainly be bombarded with these stereotypes, but Oliver will certainly do well. What I want to say is that everyone who plays in England and is Austrian is very, very important for the image of Austrian football.
“We now have a fantastic team, a national coach with a history in England and now another Austrian in charge of Crystal Palace. Nothing better can happen for our football because the Premier League is the biggest market in the world.”
