Crystal Palace staff profiles
Written by Simon Austin — April 2, 2018
Pen pics of Crystal Palace's coaching, science, medicine and analytics staff. To see staff profiles for other clubs, click HERE.
SPORTING DIRECTOR
SPORTING DIRECTOR
DOUGIE FREEDMAN
Nationality: Scottish
Made 237 appearances for the Eagles as a player between 2000 and 2008. Was also their manager in 2011/12 and assistant manager. Appointed in August 2017 to work on "all footballing aspects of the club," according to owner Steve Parish.
COACHING
HEAD COACH
Oliver Glasner
Nationality: Austrian
Took Eintracht Frankfurt to the 2021/22 Europa League title - the club’s first continental trophy in more than 40 years. The following year, reached the German Cup final and Champions League last 16, and once again qualified for Europe. Made more than 550 appearances for SV Ried and went on to manage them. Also led LASK in Austria, guiding them from second tier to European qualification in just three seasons, before earning a place in the Champions League qualifiers in his fourth. Had two seasons at Wolfsburg, earning their third-highest points total and securing Champions League qualification.
ASSISTANT
Ronald Brunmayr
Nationality: Austrian
As a player, topped the Austrian Bundesliga’s goalscoring charts in 2001/02 and was named Footballer of the Year. Won eight caps for Austria, scoring once. Played alongside Glasner at SV Ried and Grazer AK, where he won the Austrian Cup. Managed FC Blau-Weiss Linz to the 2020/21 second-tier title in Austria, before joining Glasner’s coaching staff at Eintracht Frankfurt.
ASSISTANT
Michael Angerschmid
Nationality: Austrian
Team-mate of Glasner’s during 14 years at SV Ried, where he made more than 400 appearances and won the Austrian Cup. Served as Glasner’s assistant at LASK from 2015 and 2019, before working with him at Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt.
ASSISTANT
Emanuel Pogatetz
Nationality: Austrian
Capped 61 times by Austria and made 158 appearances for Middlesbrough. Assistant at LASK in 2020/21 and at SKN St. Pölten from June 2021 to October 2023. Then led Austria Vienna’s B Team, known as the ‘Young Violets’.
ASSISTANT
Paddy McCarthy
Nationality: Irish
Played more than 250 senior games as a player. Appointed Palace U18 Head Coach in 2016. Progressed to the U21s before joining the first-team staff under Hodgson.
GOALKEEPER COACH
DEAN KIELY
Nationality: Irish
Appointed in January 2018. Was Hodgson's goalkeeping coach at West Brom in 2011/12. Made 664 appearances for six clubs during a 21-year playing career.
PERFORMANCE
HEAD OF SPORT SCIENCE
MICHAEL EGLON
Nationality: English
Joined in 2016 as U21 sports science intern. Promoted to first-team S&C coach in July 2018 following departure of Alessandro Schoenmaker. Took on current role in September 2021.
FITNESS AND CONDITIONING COACH
Michael Berktold
Nationality: Austrian
Served under Glasner at LASK and Wolfsburg. Most recent role was at Red Bull Salzburg.
GPS ANALYST
Cedric Leduc
Nationality: French
Worked for PSG as a Performance Scientist before joining Leeds Beckett University in October 2017. Has been with the Eagles since the start of 2022.
HEAD STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH
Jamie Goldsmith
Nationality: English
Joined in December 2018 from Notts County. Promoted to Head of S&C at the start of 2022.
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH
Frazer Findlay
Nationality: English
Previously worked for Liverpool. Joined Palace in December 2019 and is also a sport scientist for Wales.
STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH
BEN SMALLEY
Nationality: English
Joined in January 2022 from QPR B team.
MEDICAL
HEAD OF SPORTS MEDICINE
DR IMTIAZ AHMAD
Nationality: English
Appointed in February 2024. Previously worked for QPR for seven years, as Club Doctor, Head of Medical and Head of Medicine and Performance.
HEAD PHYSIO
JAMES HAYCOCK
Nationality: English
Another very experienced practitioner, having been Head of Medical at Hartlepool and Huddersfield and first-team physio at Arsenal for three years. Joined from Newcastle United in February 2022 and also works for the Wales national team.
Nationality:
PHYSIO
OLLIE WAITE
Nationality: English
Joined from Blackburn Rovers, where he was assistant first-teams physio, in August 2020. Had previously worked with Ireland Rugby League and the Huddersfield Giants.
PHYSIO
NICK TAYLOR
Nationality: English
Joined from Fulham in February 2020. Has also worked on Soccer Aid as a physio since June 2018.
REHAB COACH
HARRY BEARMAN
Nationality: English
Worked for Millwall and Charlton before joining Palace in September 2019.
HEAD SOFT TISSUE THERAPIST
Ian Evans
Nationality: English
With Palace since January 2013. Previously worked with Sussex County Cricket.
SOFT TISSUE THERAPIST
Mark Vine
Nationality: English
Has worked for the Eagles since August 2017.
ANALYSTS
HEAD OF PERFORMANCE AND RECRUITMENT ANALYSIS
BEN STEVENS
Nationality: English
Held the same role at Newcastle United before being recruited by the Eagles in 2015.
PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Thomas Johnson
Nationality: English
Promoted from Head of Academy Performance Analysis to first team in April 2019. Joined club in July 2017 from Derby.
PERFORMANCE ANALYST
Kieran Dowler
Nationality: English
Joined in July 2021 from Tottenham, where he had worked full-time for a year.
