Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson is finding himself under increasing pressure, and some fans are divided over who they would like to replace him.
Hodgson is set to leave at the end of the season anyway, but could find himself dismissed after a dismal run of results has seen his side win just one of their last 12 games.
Fans have voiced their disapproval at both the manager and the club hierarchy in recent weeks, and Steve Cooper and even Frank Lampard have been touted as potential candidates for the Crystal Palace job.
However, it is unclear who the playing squad will want to see brought in, now or at the end of the season, but Joachim Andersen has now thrown a name into the mix.
Joachim Andersen admits he wants to work with former manager again
Andersen has been an excellent signing for Palace overall, since his arrival from Lyon in 2021.
He previously played in the Premier League with Fulham under Scott Parker, whom he joined after impressing with Sampdoria in Serie A.
Speaking to Gianluca Di Marzio’s website, Andersen admitted that his former Sampdoria boss Marco Giampaolo was the best manager he has had, and hinted that he wants to play under him again at some point.
“Coach Giampaolo was my mentor. He taught me everything in the defensive phase, improving me as a player. He is without a shadow of a doubt the manager I learned the most from. He’s a fantastic manager to whom I owe so much,” Andersen stated.
“He’s without a team right now, but I wish him a return to the bench soon. And, who knows? Maybe one day we’ll work together again.”
Could Marco Giampaolo be an option for Crystal Palace?
The 56-year-old is currently unattached, so it is not beyond the realms of possibility that he could be considered for Palace, but despite Andersen’s wishes, this does not look like the right move for the club.
Although the Italian has plenty of experience in management, including at AC Milan, his spells outside of his time at Sampdoria have mostly ended in failure.
His last role saw him return to the club where he enjoyed a three-year spell between 2016 and 2019 in 2022, but was dismissed as the side were eventually relegated.
Giampaolo has not lasted longer than one year in most of his roles outside of his first Sampdoria spell, and if he was somehow targeted, he would be an underwhelming appointment, and far from the potential long-term project Palace perhaps need to build around.
