Crystal Palace staff profiles
Written by Simon Austin — April 3, 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
MANAGER
PATRICK VIEIRA
Nationality: French
Legendary player who won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups for Arsenal and the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000 with France. His coaching career began with Manchester City, where he managed their Elite Development Squad (after two years as Football Development Executive) and then took him to their sister side New York City in the MLS. Took over Ligue 1 side Nice in June 2018, but was sacked in December 2020 after a run of five straight defeats.
FIRST-TEAM COACH
KRISTIAN WILSON
Nationality: English
Was a skills coach at Sheffield United, where he worked with the likes of Kyle Walker and Harry Maguire. First worked with Vieira at Manchester City, where he was Head of Technical Performance from 2008 to 2015. Followed the Frenchman to New York City and then Nice as Performance Specialist.
DEVELOPMENT COACH
SAID AIGOUN
Nationality: French
Interesting background. Started as a youth coach at the age of 16 before joining Ligue 2 side Paris FC. Progressed to Auxerre, where he worked as a coach in the Academy and as an analyst with the first team, and then PSG, where he was an Academy coach from 2014 to 2019. Also works as a consultant for French TV and has known compatriot Vieira for several years.
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 & MEDICAL
HEAD OF SPORT SCIENCE/ S&C
SCOTT GUYETT
Nationality: Australian
Spent most of his childhood in Australia, before playing in the lower leagues in England. Joined Palace in October 2010 as fitness coach.
DOCTOR
ZAF IQBAL
Nationality: English
A well-known figure in football, having been first-team doctor at Liverpool (2010-2015), Tottenham (2008-2010) and Leyton Orient (2005-2007). Joined Palace in July 2015.
LEAD S&C COACH
CHRIS PETRIE
Nationality: Australian
Joined Palace in July 2013, having worked in Australia. Promoted from Academy to first team in 2015 and then to lead S&C in the summer of 2018.
S&C COACH
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.
HEAD PHYSIO
ED RICHMOND
Nationality: Welsh
Worked for Cardiff before moving to Palace in August 2016. Had a stint with the Welsh national team in 2017. Promoted in the summer of 2018 when Chris Morgan moved to Arsenal.
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
SAM TOWNSLEY
Nationality: Australian
With Palace since July 2018. Previously worked in gaelic football with Monaghan.
SOFT TISSUE THERAPIST
IAN EVANS
Nationality: English
With Palace since January 2013. Previously worked with Sussex County Cricket.
SPORTS SCIENCE ANALYST
Jake Kemp
Nationality: English
Joined in Spring 2020 from Edge 10, where he had been a sports scientist. Previously sports science assistant at Newcastle United for three years.
ANALYSTS
HEAD ANALYST
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
Rob Weaver
Nationality: English
Joined club in April 2016 from MK Dons.
OPERATIONS
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Sharon Lacey
Nationality: English
Has been at Palace for a decade and was previously Head of Customer Service and Head of Marketing. Her role is described as everything from "overseeing hundreds of matchday staff to managing structural issues in a 95-year-old warren of corrugated iron."
