Latest news with #JasonPuncheon
The Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Alan Pardew's career since Wembley dance, from quitting CSKA Sofia over racism storm to bizarre spell in Greece
MANCHESTER UNITED won the 2016 FA Cup final courtesy of Jesse Lingard's extra time goal. But despite Lingard's heroics, the match is best remembered for then- Crystal Palace boss Alan Pardew 's infamous touchline jig. 8 8 Boyhood Palace fan Jason Puncheon sent the Eagles faithful at Wembley into delirium by belting the ball beyond David de Gea on 78 minutes. Celebrating Puncheon's goal, Pardew turned towards his bench wearing a huge grin. In a moment that would go down in FA Cup folklore, the former Newcastle boss performed the most outrageous example of dad dancing that Wembley Stadium has ever seen. Unfortunately for Pards and Co, Juan Mata equalised barely three minutes later - with Lingard breaking their hearts in extra time. Pardew's Palace reign never recovered, and he was duly sacked in December of the same year, following a run of just six wins in 36 matches. After 11 months out of the game, Pards was back in the Prem - parachuted into West Brom to replace fellow former Palace boss Tony Pulis. There was nothing for him to dance about at the Hawthorns as he didn't even see out the season - winning just three of his 21 games in charge on the way to the Baggies' relegation. Ouch. Pardew's next adventure saw him take on another relegation battle, this time in the Eredivisie with ADO Den Haag. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 8 The Hague side looked doomed with Pards having only won once in eight matches... only for the Covid pandemic to see the season KO'd, thus saving them from the drop. ADO Den Haag's outgoing boss was reportedly due a £100,000 bonus for avoiding relegation, even having been spared by the season being scrapped. Upon leaving, Pardew insisted: "If I was formally entitled to an amount I would never want to receive it. In this difficult period I would always return any bonus to the club, which will certainly find a good destination for it." Pardew's next job saw him take on an advisory role with Bulgarian side CSKA Sofia in November 2020. Eighteen months later he stepped into the CSKA dugout. His spell in charge ended in June 2022, when he resigned after a section of racist CSKA fans threw bananas at their own team's black players. Per Sky Sports, Pardew was "angered and upset" by the incident - and in a subsequent statement he said: "The events before and after the match against Botev Plovdiv were unacceptable not only for me, but also for my assistant Alex Dyer and for my players. Our players decided to play out of loyalty towards the club. "This small group of organised racist fans, who tried to sabotage the game, are not the fans I want to coach the team in front of. That's definitely not the right way for CSKA because such club deserves a lot more." 8 8 8 Pardew's most-recent managerial role took him to Greece, where he would win nine of his 22 games in charge of Aris Thessaloniki prior to his February 2023 exit. Since his last managerial job, Pardew has shifted into punditry. He co-hosts a show on talkSPORT on Sunday nights alongside DJ Mastestic, and he could recently be seen starring in a Paddy Power advert alongside the likes of Joe Cole and Glenn Hoddle. While Pardew can be found on the radio these days, he will not be seen at Wembley during his former club's FA Cup final... because he doesn't want memories of his dad dancing to overshadow yet another final. The 63-year-old said: "I told Steve (Parish) that this team deserves so much credit. "The problem with 2016 is that the team didn't get enough. Every time it comes up in conversation, my dance comes up with it. "And I don't want there to be even the slightest chance of that happening this time. 'I don't mind talking about it. It was just an off-the-cuff reaction to a goal. No shame. But this cup final should be about this Palace team. 'I've told Steve that if they win, I will celebrate with him at the Wolves game next Tuesday instead. "But I'll be watching from home for sure.' 8
The Irish Sun
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
lan Pardew to SKIP Crystal Palace's FA Cup final – because he doesn't want to be asked about Wembley ‘dad dance'
ALAN PARDEW is skipping the FA Cup Final to spare his beloved Crystal Palace any more questions about his infamous Wembley dad dancing. Former Eagles boss Pardew cannot escape Mickey taking over his impromptu touchline jig in celebration of Jason Puncheon's 78th-minute goal against Manchester United in the 2016 final. 3 Alan Pardew guided Crystal Palace to the 2015/16 FA Cup final Credit: ACTION IMAGES 3 Pardew's dancing after Jason Puncheon's opener went viral Credit: BBC So he has declined an invitation from chairman Steve Parish to go to the game and will instead stay home and cheer on the team from his living room. Pardew, 63, said: 'I told Steve that this team deserves so much credit. "The problem with 2016 is that the team didn't get enough. 'Every time it comes up in conversation, my dance comes up with it. READ MORE CRYSTAL PALACE NEWS "And I don't want there to be even the slightest chance of that happening this time. 'I don't mind talking about it. It was just an off-the-cuff reaction to a goal. No shame. "But this Cup final should be about this Palace team. 'I've told Steve that if they win, I will celebrate with him at the Wolves game next Tuesday instead. Most read in Football JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 3 Alan Pardew will celebrate with Palace chief Steve Parish if they pip City to the trophy Credit: AFP "But I'll be watching from home for sure.' Palace gaffer Oliver Glasner is determined to make it third-time lucky for The Eagles at FA Cup finals with a shock win over City. WILD De Bruyne & Martinelli stats set to shape FA Cup final weekend | Experts' bets - Weekend Wager The Austrian said: "It feels like more than a normal game. There's much more attention and much more interviews to do during the week. "But our preparation was more or less the same as in the Premier League games and before the semi-final or the quarter-final and all the other games. "We focused on what we want to do tomorrow at Wembley . We analysed "Because this is what we can influence, we can influence our performance, we can influence what we want to do in and out of possession and so the focus was on our game. "Also we just made one or two small adjustments, because the players especially did very well in the last couple of weeks and so we're up with a lot of confidence and looking forward to the final."
Scottish Sun
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Inside Jason Puncheon's new life as manager in Cyprus nine years after ex-Crystal Palace ace, 38, netted in FA Cup final
Puncheon scored against Man Utd at Wembley for his boyhood club PUNCHER'S CHANCE Inside Jason Puncheon's new life as manager in Cyprus nine years after ex-Crystal Palace ace, 38, netted in FA Cup final JASON PUNCHEON could enjoy a double celebration this season. In his first season as a manager in Cyprus he led Akritas Chlorakas to promotion to the top tier. 8 Jason Puncheon is forging his path as a manager in Cyrpus Credit: INSTAGRAM 8 Puncheon put Palace 1-0 up in the 2016 FA Cup final Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd And on Saturday his 'team' Crystal Palace will make their first FA Cup final appearance since he scored but Palace lost 2-1 against Manchester United in 2016. The 38-year-old has been based on the Mediterranean island for five years as a player and now manager, and is enjoying a contented but hard-working life 2,000 miles from his old home in London. The former midfielder made a life-changing decision about his career while playing at Huddersfield in the Prem in 2019. But it was more or less made for him, following a remark by one of his daughters. He explained: 'I was travelling up and down the country because my family were still living in London and I was in Yorkshire at Huddersfield for most of the week. 'My second-youngest daughter provided a wake-up call one day when she said to me, 'Daddy, why are you away all the time?' 'It really struck a chord with me and I couldn't get it out of my head as I was travelling back to Huddersfield. 'I knew that whatever move I made next, it would have to be for the whole family, not just me. 'When the idea of joining Cypriot top-flight club Pafos came up in 2019, the idea of moving here to build a new life with my family appealed to all of us. We are really happy.' CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS 8 Puncheon finished his playing career in Cyrpus Credit: Pafos FC Puncheon was at Pafos for three seasons before switching to Anorthosis Famagusta two years ago. He said: 'I was planning that I would have one last season playing for Famagusta. For several years my mind had always been geared into coaching when I retired and I dipped my toe in the water at Peyia, AEZ Zakakiou and Ayia Napa. It was a great learning curve.' How can Glasner make Palace compete v Man City in FA Cup final? However, he was appointed head coach at Akritas Chlorakas on November 20 last year — and within five months led them to promotion. He said: 'Managing here is a huge challenge as it is a different culture to what I've been used to in England. 'I am enjoying the success of promotion but I know the hard work has only just started. 'Next season it's going to be another level, but I'm ready for it.' Puncheon completed all his Uefa A and B badges alongside Djimi Traore, Juan Pablo Angel and Carlton Cole before moving to Cyprus. It is interesting to hear him speak about the future and whether continued management success in Cyprus may see a return to England. He said: 'I am not even thinking that far ahead at the moment. 'The results have been great for me and the club since November and to be promoted is a big step. My entire focus is now on next season.' 8 Puncheon played for Palace between 2013 and 2019 Credit: Getty Images - Getty Puncheon revealed that he has always been football mad, explaining: 'My whole life I have always felt I've had a ball at my feet.' And he remembers his league debut for Wimbledon in March 2004 as though it was last week. He said: 'I was a sub and came on at half-time at Walsall. We lost the game 1-0. The thing that sticks in my mind is I was playing against Paul Merson, who came on as a sub. 'I switched to MK Dons but I was released by the club in 2006. 'Joining Barnet in League Two was a breakthrough for me, where I started to play regularly." 8 Puncheon played for Barnet in his younger years Credit: PA:Press Association 8 The midfielder also turned out for MK Dons Credit: PA:Empics Sport Puncheon had spells at Plymouth Argyle and further stints on loan at MK Dons but he reflects on joining Southampton in 2010 — where he believes his career went up several notches. He said: 'All my previous clubs had given me a platform to play but, even though Southampton were in League One, the facilities and structure were that of a Premier League club. 'During my early days I had a loan spell at Blackpool where I played in the Prem for the first time but Saints were on another level.' Within three years, the Saints had back-to-back promotions and were back in the top tier for 2012-13. The Londoner made 32 Prem appearances for Saints that season as they finished in 14th. But in the summer of 2013, he signed a one-year loan with Crystal Palace. He said: 'Growing up Palace was my team, all my family were fans, so joining them felt special.' 8 Puncheon joined Southampton in 2010 Credit: Action Images - Reuters Six months later he made the loan permanent in a £1.75million deal. He talks proudly of wearing the skipper's armband for Palace and of two of his standout goals among the 16 he netted for the Eagles in his six years at Selhurst Park. He revealed: 'The winner against Norwich in April 2016 was huge in terms of making sure we stayed up that season. There is an iconic photo of us celebrating the goal. 'Then there was scoring the opener in the FA Cup final against Manchester United with less than 20 minutes remaining. 'I wished it had been the winner. Sadly Juan Mata equalised and then Jesse Lingard scored the winner for them in extra-time. 'I would be absolutely overjoyed if they went one better this season and won the Cup next month.'
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Inside Jason Puncheon's new life as manager in Cyprus nine years after ex-Crystal Palace ace, 38, netted in FA Cup final
JASON PUNCHEON could enjoy a double celebration this season. In his first season as a manager in Cyprus he led Akritas Chlorakas to promotion to the top tier. 8 And on Saturday his 'team' Crystal Palace will make their first FA Cup final appearance since he scored but Palace lost 2-1 against Manchester United in 2016. The 38-year-old has been based on the Mediterranean island for five years as a player and now manager, and is enjoying a contented but hard-working life 2,000 miles from his old home in London. The former midfielder made a life-changing decision about his career while playing at Huddersfield in the Prem in 2019. But it was more or less made for him, following a remark by one of his daughters. He explained: 'I was travelling up and down the country because my family were still living in London and I was in Yorkshire at Huddersfield for most of the week. 'My second-youngest daughter provided a wake-up call one day when she said to me, 'Daddy, why are you away all the time?' 'It really struck a chord with me and I couldn't get it out of my head as I was travelling back to Huddersfield. 'I knew that whatever move I made next, it would have to be for the whole family, not just me. 'When the idea of joining Cypriot top-flight club Pafos came up in 2019, the idea of moving here to build a new life with my family appealed to all of us. We are really happy.' CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Puncheon was at Pafos for three seasons before switching to Anorthosis Famagusta two years ago. He said: 'I was planning that I would have one last season playing for Famagusta. For several years my mind had always been geared into coaching when I retired and I dipped my toe in the water at Peyia, AEZ Zakakiou and Ayia Napa. It was a great learning curve.' How can Glasner make Palace compete v Man City in FA Cup final? However, he was appointed head coach at Akritas Chlorakas on November 20 last year — and within five months led them to promotion. He said: 'Managing here is a huge challenge as it is a different culture to what I've been used to in England. 'I am enjoying the success of promotion but I know the hard work has only just started. 'Next season it's going to be another level, but I'm ready for it.' Puncheon completed all his Uefa A and B badges alongside Djimi Traore, Juan Pablo Angel and Carlton Cole before moving to Cyprus. It is interesting to hear him speak about the future and whether continued management success in Cyprus may see a return to England. He said: 'I am not even thinking that far ahead at the moment. 'The results have been great for me and the club since November and to be promoted is a big step. My entire focus is now on next season.' 8 Puncheon revealed that he has always been football mad, explaining: 'My whole life I have always felt I've had a ball at my feet.' And he remembers his league debut for Wimbledon in March 2004 as though it was last week. He said: 'I was a sub and came on at half-time at Walsall. We lost the game 1-0. The thing that sticks in my mind is I was playing against Paul Merson, who came on as a sub. 'I switched to MK Dons but I was released by the club in 2006. 'Joining Barnet in League Two was a breakthrough for me, where I started to play regularly." 8 Puncheon had spells at Plymouth Argyle and further stints on loan at MK Dons but he reflects on joining Southampton in 2010 — where he believes his career went up several notches. He said: 'All my previous clubs had given me a platform to play but, even though Southampton were in League One, the facilities and structure were that of a Premier League club. 'During my early days I had a loan spell at Blackpool where I played in the Prem for the first time but Saints were on another level.' Within three years, the Saints had back-to-back promotions and were back in the top tier for 2012-13. The Londoner made 32 Prem appearances for Saints that season as they finished in 14th. But in the summer of 2013, he signed a one-year loan with Crystal Palace. He said: 'Growing up Palace was my team, all my family were fans, so joining them felt special.' 8 Six months later he made the loan permanent in a £1.75million deal. He talks proudly of wearing the skipper's armband for Palace and of two of his standout goals among the 16 he netted for the Eagles in his six years at Selhurst Park. He revealed: 'The winner against Norwich in April 2016 was huge in terms of making sure we stayed up that season. There is an iconic photo of us celebrating the goal. 'Then there was scoring the opener in the FA Cup final against Manchester United with less than 20 minutes remaining. 'I wished it had been the winner. Sadly Juan Mata equalised and then Jesse Lingard scored the winner for them in extra-time. 'I would be absolutely overjoyed if they went one better this season and won the Cup next month.' 8
Daily Mirror
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Crystal Palace hero Jason Puncheon on FA Cup final goal and famous celebration
EXCLUSIVE: Eagles legend Jason Puncheon netted against Manchester United in 2016 FA Cup Final at Wembley to see Alan Pardew do his dad dance on the famous touchline Jason Puncheon scored Crystal Palace's last goal in an FA Cup final to spark an infamous and premature celebration by his manager But the Eagles legend believes the time is now right for Oliver Glasner 's team to make history - and they should be honoured with statues outside Selhurst Park if they win the club's first major trophy. Croydon-born Palace fan Puncheon came off the bench to lash a volley past David de Gea after 78 minutes of the 2016 final against Manchester United after a perfect pass from Joel Ward. 'It is funny because Wardie, who is the only player still there, has announced he is leaving this week so I have to give him a special mention,' he said. 'I just knew where he was going to cross the ball. And as soon as I touched it, I knew I was going to score because it just sat up perfectly for the volley.' But that superb goal is now best remembered for Alan Pardew's dad dancing on the touchline just three minutes before Juan Mata equalised. Jesse Lingard netted the winner in extra time. Puncheon, who has just led Akritas Chlorakas to promotion to the top-flight of Cypriot football, said: 'I wasn't aware of the manager's celebration then. "I think it was the next day when someone sent the newspaper to me in a group chat and started laughing. It was a bittersweet moment for Pards at the time. It was a lesson for him. 'I know Pards. People say professionally he shouldn't have done this and that. But I don't blame him because if I had been him as the coach, knowing my Crystal Palace team, I would have thought: 'We have won this'. Most of the time, when we went ahead, we never lost a game. "It was just instilled in us. That came from Tony Pulis and it led on to the other coaches there. Can I see Glasner doing something similar if Palace score on Saturday? "I think he is a bit of a different character. That will not be for him. But I really hope they win. If they win that trophy, they should put statues of all those players outside Selhurst Park.' Puncheon added: 'They have got a great chance of beating Man City, especially with the season Man City have had. This team is a lot more technically based than we were. We were very resilient. Who is the Jason Puncheon in this team? I would like to say Eberechi Eze. I think he is better than me. He is a really big driving force of the team.' But Puncheon picks out another England star as Palace's key player at Wembley. 'I think Adam Wharton will be the difference,' he said. 'He is a fantastic player. I think he has got the top teams in his sights for sure.' Puncheon, now 38, has coached four different teams in Cyprus in the last two years. Speaking by phone from a padel court in sunny Paphos, he said: 'I am in shorts and T-shirts right now - and I am for 10 months of the year. We are a small team but anything is possible.' It will be the same on Saturday. 'I will be watching in Cyprus for sure - there is no way I will miss that,' said Puncheon. 'I will probably try and find a nice quiet place on my own out of the house. Maybe a quiet bar somewhere. Now it is their chance to make history. '
