Throw in a 19-game unbeaten run to eclipse a club record and Palace can be extremely satisfied with how 2025 went. There was even room for a win against Brighton & Hove Albion in April to achieve double success over their arch-rivals.
No longer do they have to think about just being stable. Manager Oliver Glasner has led them to unprecedented success and changed the mentality of the club and everyone associated with it.
This has been the best 12 months of the club’s 120-year history.
Best moment
That FA Cup victory was incredible. The joy on the faces of so many Palace fans, followed by a parade around the streets surrounding Selhurst Park, was fantastic to see. The game itself, the swift, flowing move from which Eberechi Eze scored a fantastic goal, Dean Henderson saving Omar Marmoush’s penalty, the jubilation throughout, the Tifo which helped bring brothers Dominic and Nathan Wealleans closer again. Just a brilliant day.
Crystal Palace’s FA Cup parade outside Selhurst Park (Tom Dulat/Getty Images)
Worst moment
Being denied entry to the Europa League due to the multi-club ownership issues surrounding the now former co-owner John Textor and his Eagle Football vehicle. That it became apparent so soon after the best day in the club’s history at Wembley was more painful.
Best game
Obviously the FA Cup final is the only correct answer but otherwise it would have to be Palace’s 4-2 win over Wolves in May.
Firstly, a very honourable mention to Palace 3-0 Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final, for what was an incredible performance. But the atmosphere at Selhurst Park three days after victory in the final at Wembley was unrivalled and the result matched it, the three points that day ensuring Palace eclipsed their previous highest-ever Premier League points total.
His form may have dipped of late, but Jean-Philippe Mateta has been a revelation this year. He has nine goals this season in all competitions to add to the 10 he accumulated earlier in 2025 at the back end of last season.
Jean-Philippe Mateta has scored 19 goals in an outstanding year for Palace (Eddie Keogh/Getty Images)
The improvement in his game has been outstanding, even just over the course of the year. He has adapted his style of play, flourished with his hold-up play and linked well with the midfield and No 10s. He even earned a call up to France and scored on his full debut in October.
No other player can boast such a strong year, although there is strong competition from Marc Guehi in defence.
The stat that sums up 2025
Well, any of a number of stats about how much Palace have struggled to convert their chances into goals this season and how, in a peculiar way, that also reflects their progress as they ought to be higher in the Premier League table this season than their current ninth place, would make sense here.
But it has to be the 19-game unbeaten run to set a new club record. Stretching from April 19 with a goalless draw away against Bournemouth to October 5 when they fell to a 2-1 defeat away against Everton, it was a remarkable run of form.
The record being set by beating Dynamo Kyiv in the Conference League was particularly notable, given this is the first time Palace have competed in Europe.
“I said to (City manager) Pep (Guardiola) if we meet again then you can’t play this system (again), because we will solve it,” Glasner said.
A month later, at Wembley, he did exactly that.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner has proved eminently quotable (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
Most surprising thing that happened
Winning two trophies. No one would have predicted even one, let alone two, at the start of the year.
Which of your club’s players will do best at the World Cup?
It’s hard to look beyond Guehi. The Palace captain has been as consistent as ever at domestic and international level. He is a regular for England head coach Thomas Tuchel and with his country likely to go deep into the tournament, there is every reason to expect that form to continue.
The likelihood of seeing him in the first team again is relatively slim beyond a possible opportunity in the FA Cup third round against Macclesfield or cameos later in the season, but much will depend on Palace’s January transfer business.
But that is not a reflection of his talent, more that he will benefit from regular training (which is not something he would get in the first team, given their intensive schedule). However, he will return to the under-21 side with valuable experience and a chance to stand out and prove that his strong debut performance was just the beginning.
A wish for 2026
Am I allowed to wish for more wishes? No? “That’s cheating,” you say. OK, well I’ll put two in one then.
Palace to win the Conference League and as a result Glasner to sign a new contract. This is a tough ask but it would represent a huge achievement and be a reward for the incredible work that has been undertaken since Glasner arrived in February last year.
If this season is to be his last as Palace manager then it would be the perfect way to bow out, but maybe, just maybe, there might be a chance he will decide to extend his contract before it expires in the summer.
