Simon Jordan was Crystal Palace owner between 2000 and 2010, with a number of managers coming and going during his time at the club.
Times are good for Crystal Palace right now. Despite a 2-1 defeat against Everton before the break, Oliver Glasner has the side up in 6th place of the Premier League table, and playing European football.
But it’s not always been so positive for the Eagles. They’ve twice been in administration in their recent history, with the last time being only 15 years ago in 2010.
Under current owner Steve Parish, Palace have become a club that spends big and profits on players too, notably selling Ebere Eze to Arsenal for £68million just this summer.
Parish is also making a good habit with managerial appointments. The same wasn’t often said for Simon Jordan.
Simon Jordan said he didn’t like Steve Bruce at Crystal Palace
Now a regular on talkSPORT, Jordan often reminisces about his time as Crystal Palace owner. And when discussing Steven Gerrard’s recent links to the Rangers job, he recalled Steve Bruce and when he hired him at Selhurst Park.
Jordan actually went on to reveal how he urged Huddersfield Town to sack Bruce when he was in charge there between 1999 and 2000, before then hiring him at Palace just nine months later.
Jordan said: “Once upon a time I interviewed Steve Bruce who I didn’t like, and I’d actually had a relationship with Huddersfield manager [owner] and told him to fire Steve Bruce because I really didn’t like the way Steve Bruce behaved in the dugout against us when I was Palace owner. And ironically nine months later I’m interviewing Steve Bruce.”
Steve Bruce’s Crystal Palace record was impressive
Bruce left Palace for Birmingham City in 2001. He ended up staying in Birmingham for six years where he enjoyed his first real prolonged, successful stint as a manager. But he did well for Palace too.
In just 18 games as Palace boss, Bruce won 11, leaving with a win record of 61% which is the highest of any Crystal Palace manager since 2000, albeit being a very short-lived stint.
Palace were actually top of the First Division table when he tendered his resignation. But now Palace are a Premier League team flourishing under Man United-linked Glasner who is actually, worryingly, out of contract at the end of this season.
Crystal Palace return to action against Bournemouth after the international break.
