Clubs managed: Crystal Palace, Manchester City, Crystal Palace, Brentford, Brighton and Hove Albion, Reading

Steve Coppell is Palace's longest serving post-war manager and in total he was in charge at Selhurst Park for around 12 years in three four different spells.

When Steve took charge in SE25 for the first time in 1984 he was the youngest manager in the Football League at 29 years of age after a cruciate ligament injury had forced him to bring the curtain down early on a career that had seen him win 42 England caps and play 395 games for Manchester United. The fact that Steve took Palace to their highest league position and their first FA Cup final with no previous managerial experience is a magnificent achievement.

The side that Steve inherited in 1984 was not in the best shape but with some astute signings he started to build a team that within five years that won promotion to the top-flight in 1989 through the play-offs.

Palace supporters know from experience that maintaining top-flight status is difficult but Steve ensured the club's immediate survival in 1989/90, even after a disastrous 9-0 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield! However, the Eagles gained revenge over the Reds as they beat them 4-3 in a dramatic FA Cup semi-final. The win was seen as a piece of tactical genius by Steve and he therefore holds the honour of being the first Palace manager to take the club to Wembley.

The 1990/91 season was even better for Palace fans as Steve led his team to third place, the club's highest ever league finish, and a first major trophy in the form of the Full Members Cup.

The following three years of Steve's reign were disappointing but the loss of key players through transfers and injury meant that on the last day of 1992/93 Palace were relegated from the Premiership with the highest ever points tally.

After relegation Steve resigned but in 1995 he returned as Director of Football before leaving to take over at Manchester City, a job role that would only last six games. In 1997 Steve returned again to secure another promotion via the play-offs and he remained in charge of the Eagles for the first seven months of 1997/98 but a traumatic boardroom takeover led to his resignation and the club slumping to relegation yet again.

In January 1999 with the club in severe financial turmoil Steve once again returned to Selhurst Park. Steve was forced to rely upon players from the youth team yet he inspired them to secure a 14^th place finish for the club despite administration. The following season saw Chairman Mark Goldberg resign and the financial situation dominated everything at Selhurst Park but Steve maintained morale and the league position.

Much to the surprise of Palace fans Steve left the club for a fourth time in the summer of 2000 just after current Chairman Simon Jordan had bought the club. He went on to have reasonable success at Brentford and Brighton before moving to Reading where he is currently building a side to push for promotion to the Premiership.

There is no doubt that Steve has been one of the most successful and popular managers the club has ever had and Palace supporters will forever be grateful to him for his contribution to the club's history.