John Textor's Tumultuous Tenure at Crystal Palace Marked by Disputes and Financial Strain
Notes from former director Bobby Manzi detail acrimonious relationships and a struggling football empire involving Crystal Palace, Lyon, and Botafogo.
The ownership of Crystal Palace by John Textor has been a period characterized by significant disputes and a strained financial landscape, according to details revealed by former director Bobby Manzi.
Sources indicate that Textor engaged in frequent and intense disagreements with Crystal Palace co-owner Steve Parish. These confrontations occurred even as the club achieved notable success, such as winning the FA Cup. Despite these victories, the relationship between the two ownership figures was reportedly fraught with animosity.
Textor's broader football empire, which included stakes in clubs like Lyon and Botafogo, has also faced considerable challenges. His involvement with these clubs led to complications, including Crystal Palace being excluded from the Europa League last season. This was due to UEFA regulations prohibiting teams with the same controlling partner from competing in the same European competition.
Under Textor's ownership, Botafogo achieved a significant victory by winning the Copa Libertadores in 2024. However, this success was overshadowed by Textor's subsequent removal from the club's board in July of the same year. Similarly, Textor's appointment of Pierre Sage as head coach of Lyon in 2023, who led the team to the French Cup final in his first season, ended with Sage being sacked the following January.
Textor held approximately 40 percent of Crystal Palace from August 2021 until July 2025. During this period, he was reportedly a driving force behind the appointment of Oliver Glasner as Palace manager, with one source suggesting that this decision was instrumental in the club securing three trophies in the past 18 months. However, Textor eventually sold his stake to Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets and former US Ambassador to the UK.
The revelations suggest a pattern of volatile relationships and financial instability across Textor's various football investments, leading to a complex and often contentious business environment.
