Crystal Palace fans were today coming to terms with the news that Dougie Freedman has left the club.
Time to say goodbye? Dougie Freedman is facing 24 hours of decision making over his career and Palace’s future " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/insidecroydon.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/freedman.jpg?fit=300%2C188&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/insidecroydon.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/freedman.jpg?fit=620%2C388&ssl=1" class=" wp-image-9142" src="https://i0.wp.com/insidecroydon.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/freedman.jpg?resize=329%2C206&ssl=1" alt width="329" height="206">
Time to say goodbye: Dougie Freedman is the latest football figure lured to Saudi Arabia
Palace chairman Steve Parish said Freedman, as sporting director, had been “instrumental in everything we have done over the past eight years”, and that losing him is a blow for the Eagles.
Freedman, who scored 95 goals in two spells at the club as a player in an association with Selhurst Park that stretches back to 1995, is reported to be lined up for a role in Saudi Arabia.
In his sporting director role, Freedman has been behind some of the impressive signings made by the club that have helped cement Palace’s place in the Premier League, including Michael Olise (sold last summer to Bayern Munich for £50million), Eberechi Eze, Marc Guehi, Adam Wharton and Dean Henderson.
According to reports on the BBC Sport website (albeit written by a former Sadvertiser sports hack), Freedman, 50, has been offered a job with the Diriyah Company, which owns the Saudi second division club Al-Diriyah.
Al-Diriyah are located on the outskirts of Riyadh and are pushing to get into the Saudi Pro League. Diriyah is the original home of the Saudi royal family and is set to be a big part of the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia.
Eze for England: youngesters inspired by the Palace star have fewer public pitches to play on than in 2010, research shows " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/insidecroydon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-13-at-11-08-52-Transfer-Talk-June-19-2023-Liverpool-in-the-hunt-to-sign-Eberechi-Eze-LiveScore-e1718273469503.png?fit=300%2C199&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/insidecroydon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-13-at-11-08-52-Transfer-Talk-June-19-2023-Liverpool-in-the-hunt-to-sign-Eberechi-Eze-LiveScore-e1718273469503.png?fit=640%2C425&ssl=1" class=" wp-image-178137" src="https://i0.wp.com/insidecroydon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-13-at-11-08-52-Transfer-Talk-June-19-2023-Liverpool-in-the-hunt-to-sign-Eberechi-Eze-LiveScore-e1718273469503.png?resize=370%2C246&ssl=1" alt width="370" height="246" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/insidecroydon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-13-at-11-08-52-Transfer-Talk-June-19-2023-Liverpool-in-the-hunt-to-sign-Eberechi-Eze-LiveScore-e1718273469503.png?w=700&ssl=1 700w, https://i0.wp.com/insidecroydon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-13-at-11-08-52-Transfer-Talk-June-19-2023-Liverpool-in-the-hunt-to-sign-Eberechi-Eze-LiveScore-e1718273469503.png?resize=300%2C199&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/insidecroydon.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Screenshot-2024-06-13-at-11-08-52-Transfer-Talk-June-19-2023-Liverpool-in-the-hunt-to-sign-Eberechi-Eze-LiveScore-e1718273469503.png?resize=150%2C100&ssl=1 150w" sizes="(max-width: 370px) 100vw, 370px">
Eze for England: the yung Palace, now England, striker is among the many talents brought to the club by Freedman
The BBC report says Freedman is being lined up for a “multi-discipline” role, which he would “shape the performance philosophy of up to seven other sports under the Diriyah Company umbrella”. Whatever that’s supposed to mean.
Freedman, who also managed Palace from 2011 to 2012, has been the sporting director at Selhurst Park since 2017. In that time he has rebuffed approaches from Newcastle and Manchester United (twice).
“The former Scotland striker has been aware of the interest from Saudi Arabia for at least a month, but the move accelerated over the past week. He is expected to continue on a consultancy basis with Palace over the summer before leaving,” the BBC reports.
Iain Moody, who already works with Palace’s recruitment operation as a consultant, will “undertake a more prominent position at the club, but will not directly replace Freedman”, it is reported.
In a statement issued by Crystal Palace, Freedman added: “To be leaving the club with a squad full of exciting talent led by an excellent manager, I truly believe the foundations are in place to be built upon.”
The statement issued by the club last night said: “The club can confirm that sporting director Dougie Freedman is leaving Crystal Palace to take up a role overseas.
“Dougie has been with the club as a player, manager and sporting director, a post he has been in since 2017. In his current role, Dougie has worked across all areas of football operations, talent ID, player recruitment and retention for both the first team and academy. Dougie has also been a valued member and contributor of the Senior Leadership Group at the club.
“Chairman Steve Parish said: ‘Dougie has been instrumental in everything we have done over the past eight years and indeed had a huge impact before that as manager and, of course, as a player. I have enjoyed working with him immensely and wish him every success for the future. Dougie leaves behind an excellent and well-structured sporting department that I’m sure will continue to go from strength to strength.’
It’s official: the statement was issued by Crystal Palace last night " data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/insidecroydon.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-18-at-08-54-33-Statement-Dougie-Freedman-News-Crystal-Palace-F.C.png?fit=300%2C283&ssl=1" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/insidecroydon.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-18-at-08-54-33-Statement-Dougie-Freedman-News-Crystal-Palace-F.C.png?fit=640%2C604&ssl=1" class=" wp-image-198548" src="https://i0.wp.com/insidecroydon.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-18-at-08-54-33-Statement-Dougie-Freedman-News-Crystal-Palace-F.C.png?resize=380%2C358&ssl=1" alt width="380" height="358" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/insidecroydon.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-18-at-08-54-33-Statement-Dougie-Freedman-News-Crystal-Palace-F.C.png?resize=1024%2C966&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/insidecroydon.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-18-at-08-54-33-Statement-Dougie-Freedman-News-Crystal-Palace-F.C.png?resize=300%2C283&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/insidecroydon.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-18-at-08-54-33-Statement-Dougie-Freedman-News-Crystal-Palace-F.C.png?resize=150%2C141&ssl=1 150w, https://i0.wp.com/insidecroydon.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-18-at-08-54-33-Statement-Dougie-Freedman-News-Crystal-Palace-F.C.png?resize=768%2C724&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/insidecroydon.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Screenshot-2025-03-18-at-08-54-33-Statement-Dougie-Freedman-News-Crystal-Palace-F.C.png?w=1122&ssl=1 1122w" sizes="(max-width: 380px) 100vw, 380px">
It’s official: the statement confirming Freedman’s departure was issued by Crystal Palace last night
“Dougie Freedman said: ‘I would like to extend my thanks to Steve Parish, the other owners and to all the staff, managers and players who have been at the club during my time here. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed learning from and working alongside you all.
“‘It’s been an honour to represent the club and I am incredibly proud of the work that’s been done, with the Chairman’s support, in growing the football club into its current position.
“‘To be leaving the club with a squad full of exciting talent led by an excellent manager, I truly believe the foundations are in place to be built upon.
“’Finally, a huge thank you to all the fans for your continued support and passion – especially with how you’ve helped new signings and Academy products settle into life at Selhurst Park by supporting and getting behind the team.
“‘Crystal Palace is and will always remain in my heart, and I will continue to look for results and follow the club’s progress closely’.”
FREE ADS: Paid-up subscribers to Inside Croydon qualify for a free ad for their business, residents’ association or community group, just one of the benefits of being part of our online community. For more information about being an iC subscriber, click here for our Patreon page
PAID ADS: To advertise your services or products to our 10,000 weekday visitors to the site, as featured on Google News Showcase, email us inside.croydon@btinternet.com for our unbeatable ad rates
Inside Croydon – If you want real journalism, delivering real news, from a publication that is actually based in the borough, please consider paying for it. Sign up today: click here for more details
If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, or want to publicise your residents’ association or business, or if you have a local event to promote, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
As featured on Google News Showcase