Former Arsenal captain and Premier League winner Patrick Vieira is one of the names in the frame to replace Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace, according to The Athletic.
If we were writing that headline a year or two ago, you’d imagine that it would be greeted with a rather feverish response from the Selhurst Park faithful.
Not so long ago, Vieira was viewed as one of the most promising young coaches in European football, guiding a goal-shy Nice side to successive top-seven finishes after honing his talents under the Manchester City umbrella.
Flash forward to April 2021, however, and Vieira’s reputation is certainly not what it was.
His time in charge of Nice ended in December after a dismal series of results – and some truly dire performances.
But, according to the Athletic, a disappointing 2020 has not stopped Crystal Palace from identifying a bona fide Premier League legend as a potential successor for the out-of-contract Hodgson.
Vieira certainly has more in common with the current Palace boss than, say, a Frank Lampard or a Valerien Ismael.
His Nice side were far from prolific but conceded less than a goal-a-game during his two full seasons at the helm.
You’d imagine, then, that the transition from Hodgson to Vieira would be easier than getting used to Ismael’s exhaustive brand of gegenpressing.
“I see him as the Arsenal coach one day,” former Gunners boss Arsene Wenger told Canal Football Club in 2019.
“He has a natural charisma, he is both elegant and authoritative.”
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
