Former Nice coach Patrick Vieira admits he has a “burning desire” to get back into management amid reports claiming he could take the Crystal Palace job, speaking to L’Equipe.
With the oldest tactician in Premier League history out of contract at the end of this season, it seems Palace owner Steve Parish has his heart set on replacing 74-year-old Roy Hodgson with a promising up-and-comer.
Frank Lampard, Steve Cooper and Eddie Howe have all been linked with the Selhurst Park hot seat.
The Athletic, meanwhile, reports former Arsenal captain and Premier League winner Vieira could be on his way back to England, with Crystal Palace showing an interest too.
Vieira was sacked by Nice in December following an underwhelming start to the campaign. And, after five months out of the game, the 44-year-old is desperate to make up for lost time at a new club.
If Palace come calling, he will certainly pick up the phone.
“This desire to be in training, this adrenalin on the bench… I know and I am convinced I was made for it. My ambition is to have a very good career as a coach. I am determined. And we are only at the beginning,” Vieira says.
“I will give myself the means to succeed. As a player, I have always looked for things, I have always fought. It will be the same in this job. I’ll go get what I want. I want to go to the very highest level.”
Vieira held a pep-talk with Arsene Wenger after his two-year spell at Nice came to an end, with the legendary Gunners gaffer backing his young protege to bounce back.
“When I interact with Arsene and he tells me he has observed me and that I can be successful – these are the things that comfort me,” Vieira adds.
“And one of the first sentences he said was: ‘You’re never a real coach until you get fired.’”
Unlike Lampard, Cooper and Howe, whose teams are famed for playing attractive attacking football, Vieira’s Nice side were more functional than thrilling.
Defensively disciplined and well organised, Vieira arguably has a lot more in common with Hodgson than Crystal Palace’s other targets.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
