Oliver Glasner: Tactics, Career, and Latest News

Oliver Glasner is that manager: he won the UEFA Europa League with Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022, and now he’s taking charge at Nottingham Forest. This is the story of how an Austrian underdog built a career on tactical flexibility.

Current Club: Nottingham Forest ·
Date of Birth: August 28, 1974 ·
Age: 51 ·
Nationality: Austrian ·
Previous Club: Crystal Palace ·
Major Honor: UEFA Europa League Winner (2022)

Six key facts about Oliver Glasner’s profile, pulled from official records and trusted reports.

Where is Oliver Glasner going?

Oliver Glasner appointed at Nottingham Forest

• Oliver Glasner has been appointed head coach of Nottingham Forest in July 2026 after Vítor Pereira was sacked (Sky Sports).
• Forest reached the Europa League semi-finals last season, losing to eventual winners Aston Villa (Sky Sports).
• The club’s sporting director praised Glasner’s European pedigree and tactical adaptability in the appointment statement (Sky Sports).

The appointment signals Forest’s ambition to compete in Europe consistently, leveraging a manager who has already won the continent’s second-tier competition.

The link to Manchester United

• Rumours briefly linked Glasner to the Manchester United vacancy in summer 2026 (Sky Sports).
• The move to Forest materialised quickly after Pereira’s dismissal. Sources suggest Glasner preferred a project with a clear European trajectory rather than a rebuild at Old Trafford.

What this means for Crystal Palace’s future

• Palace face a rebuild under new leadership after Glasner’s departure.
• BBC Sport reported that Forest replacing Palace in the Europa League created a rivalry dynamic (BBC Sport).
• The Eagles will need a manager who can maintain the pressing identity Glasner instilled.

The implication: Glasner’s move to Forest is a statement of intent. For Palace, the challenge is sustaining the momentum he generated.

Which teams has Oliver Glasner coached?

Early career in Austria: SV Ried and LASK Linz

• Glasner began his managerial career at SV Ried in 2012 (Coach Notes).
• He moved to LASK Linz in 2015, where he led the club from the second division to the Europa League (Coach Notes).

Bundesliga experience: VfL Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt

• In 2019, Glasner joined VfL Wolfsburg, guiding them to two top-seven finishes in the Bundesliga (Coaches’ Voice).
• He took over Eintracht Frankfurt in 2021 and won the UEFA Europa League in the 2021-22 season, defeating Rangers on penalties (Sky Sports).

Premier League chapter: Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest

• Glasner was appointed Crystal Palace manager in February 2024, replacing Roy Hodgson (Coaches’ Voice). He immediately switched the team to a back three.
• He led Palace to their first ever European qualification and won the FA Cup, Community Shield, and Conference League during his tenure (BBC Sport).
• He left Palace in June 2026 and joined Nottingham Forest in July 2026.

What this means: Glasner has managed in four different leagues across three countries, consistently implementing his pressing system and achieving European success.

What are Oliver Glasner’s tactics and formation?

Preferred formation: 3-4-2-1 and 3-4-3 variations

• Glasner typically sets up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in possession, with wing-backs providing width (Coach Notes).
• Out of possession, his team defends in a 5-2-3 or 5-4-1 shape (Yahoo Sports).

High-pressing system and defensive organization

• Glasner’s teams are known for aggressive duelling and creating pressing traps that force opponents wide (Coaches’ Voice).
• The Athletic reported that Glasner’s philosophy is to “score goals because that is why players began football” (The Athletic).
• He prioritizes verticality and quick progression over sterile possession (Coach Notes).

Attacking patterns and wide overloads

• Glasner uses wing-backs to create numerical superiority in wide areas while keeping a compact defensive block (Yahoo Sports).
• In the final third, he prefers not to maintain possession, instead seeking quick shots and transitions (The Athletic).

The trade-off: Glasner’s system demands high fitness and tactical discipline. When it works, the pressing suffocates opponents; gaps can appear between the lines when it doesn’t.

Why did Oliver Glasner leave Crystal Palace?

The open letter to Palace fans

• Upon departure, Glasner wrote an open letter expressing gratitude to the club and supporters (BBC Sport).
• He described his time at Selhurst Park as “historic,” noting the European qualification and trophies won.

Timing and circumstances of the departure

• Glasner left Crystal Palace after his contract expired in June 2026 (BBC Sport).
• The decision was framed as a natural break after achieving significant success, including the club’s first ever European qualification and three trophies.

Relationship with the club hierarchy

• Reports indicate the departure was amicable; Glasner had built strong rapport with the squad.
• The timing aligned with his desire for a new challenge, and Forest’s European ambitions likely played a role.

Why this matters: The departure was not acrimonious. Glasner left Palace on good terms, having restored the club’s credibility and winning mentality.

How old is Oliver Glasner and who is his wife?

Date of birth and age (51)

• Oliver Glasner was born on 28 August 1974 in Salzburg, Austria (Sky Sports).
• He is currently 51 years old as of July 2026.

Family life and relationship

• Glasner is married and has a family, though he keeps details largely private (Coach Notes).
• He rarely discusses his wife or children in interviews, focusing media attention on his football philosophy.

The pattern: Like many top managers, Glasner maintains a clear boundary between his public role and private life.