Crystal Palace FC's first-ever major European adventure is underway, as we battle to win the UEFA Conference League. Find out how you can join us on our journey.

European Tour

## Born in the USA

> After a remarkable two-year journey from Alabama to Bayern Munich, Chris Richards fulfilled a lifelong dream when he moved to the Premier League with Crystal Palace in 2022.

Born in Alabama, USA, Richards began his career near Houston before joining F.C. Dallas’ Academy and earning a professional contract there.

He moved to Houston and then Dallas aged 16 – both over 600 miles from his hometown of Birmingham, Alabama, where his parents still live – and initially lived alone with a host family. He then made the even larger jump of joining Bayern Munich aged 18, where he learnt fluent German and made his senior debut shortly after signing.

From here Richards’ rise was swift: he made his senior debut in a friendly against Paris Saint-Germain in 2018, his professional debut with Bayern Munich II in 2019, and his full Bayern debut in June 2020. A few months later he featured as a substitute in the German side’s DFL-Supercup win over Borussia Dortmund.

The young defender went on to represent Bayern in the Bundesliga and Champions League before joining 1899 Hoffenheim on loan in 2021. He has played a total of 82 professional matches.

Richards began his international career early, too, competing with the US Under-20s to win the CONCACAF U20 Championship aged 18. His performances at this level earned him a senior debut in November 2020, coming on as a substitute against Panama. Richards has since amassed seven further caps.

He made his debut for the Eagles at Anfield as a second-half substitute in August 2022. Richards went on to make his first start for the club, after a leg injury, in January 2023 in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Selhurst Park.

Commenting on his first start he said: “It was worth the wait! Being able to make it \[my first Premier League start\] at home, especially in a game like tonight, was amazing."

His performances against Manchester United home and away, along with keeping a clean sheet against Newcastle United, saw him win the club's Player of the Month award in January 2023.

Richards' first domestic season in red and blue ended with 10 appearances in total, however he also managed to score his first international goal in the final of the CONCACAF Nations League against Canada to guide the United States to a 2-0 win.

The 2023/24 campaign saw Richards establish more of a place in the side, playing multiple roles as a centre-back, defensive midfielder and even as a right-back. He racked up 30 appearances in total, and scored his first goal against Burnley in a 3-0 win at Selhurst Park in February 2024.

Richards also found CONCACAF Nations League success once more, winning the title again in a 2-0 win over Mexico in March 2024. He was also recognised for his exceptional work with the Palace for Life Foundation - winning the PFA Community Champion award.

In 2024/25, Richards made 32 appearances across all competitions - six of which were in the FA Cup, where he played every single minute on the way to making history in the final against Manchester City.

2020

IFFHS Men's World Youth Team

January 2023

Crystal Palace Player of the Month

2023/24

PFA Community Champion

Richards

Twitter

Instagram

Appearances

Goals

Richards reflects on Mostar

Richards reflects on 100th Palace appearance

CPFC x SunExpress aircraft livery

Chris Richards Previews Fulham

The best of our Defenders | Brighton (H)

Chris speaks on victory against Brentford

Match Highlights: Crystal Palace 1-1 Millwall

The Full 90: Crystal Palace v Millwall | Palace TV+

Chris speaks on win against Millwall

Richards reflects on victory at Villa Park

Chris speaks on tough game against Nottingham Forest

Chris speaks on solid performance against Chelsea

Richards on the final game at Anfield 

Fa Cup Final | Chris Richards & Matt Turner | Post Match Interview

Richards praises team spirit

Goals Inside Box

Goals Outside Box

Right Foot

Left Foot

Shots

Shots on target

Hit woodwork

Penalties taken

Penalties scored

Touches

Touches in opposition box

Aerial duels

Aerial duels won

Interceptions

Blocks

Recoveries

Tackles won

Duels won

Clearances

Minutes

Attempted passes

Successful passes

Chances created

Crosses

Yellow cards

Red cards

Fouls won

Fouls Conceded

Season

Games

The Argentina international is no stranger to the demands of continental football, having previously played regularly in the Champions League with PSV Eindhoven and Europa League with Nice.

Benítez’s experience has therefore been a valuable addition to the Eagles in their inaugural continental campaign this season, with the 33-year-old having played three times in the tournament, including in the extra-time victory away at AEK Larnaca in the Round of 16.

Speaking after that match, Benítez told reporters: “It's a big game [against Fiorentina], When you qualify you know you want to play big games.

“It’s the first year of competition for Crystal Palace in Europe. Every game for us is like a final, because we want to finish in this competition as high as possible. 

“We know it's really important for the club, and for us also, so we try to give our best in every game.

“We’re trying to enjoy it also because it's important, and I hope we finish as high as possible in this competition.”


Benítez and his teammates celebrated jubilantly with their travelling supporters in Cyprus at the conclusion of their last European tie two-and-a-half weeks ago.

The journeying Eagles have travelled over 9,400 miles to a raft of countries including Norway, Poland and Bosnia this season – and Benítez draws pride from the togetherness that those supporters have demonstrated on the continent this season.

“This is our goal, because we want to always stay together,” Benítez observed. “We are one team, so every player and every staff member helps us. Today we have a lot of support [from the stands], and this is fantastic for us.

“Thank you to them for coming here and enjoying with us. Now, we try to always stay together and work hard, because this is what we want.

“I feel this connection. I know I need to go game after game and give my best, because this is my goal. I always enjoy when I go and play on the pitch, because I feel the support is behind me and helps me.

“I try to give my best and I see this connection. I am really happy and I hope we continue like this for a long time.”

### **Match Details**

**Crystal Palace v Fiorentina**

- Thursday, 9th April
- 20:00 BST
- UEFA Conference League quarter-final
- Selhurst Park
- [Live audio commentary on Palace TV+](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/supporters/palace-tv-plus/)

Walter Benítez says Crystal Palace’s players recognise the opportunity that the UEFA Conference League represents for the club this season, as the Eagles return to action against Fiorentina in the quarter-finals on Thursday night (9th April, 20:00 BST).

Benitez: Every European game now is like a Final

Crystal Palace

UEFA Conference League

AEK Larnaca

Last Match

Fiorentina

Next Match

Get ready for Europe!

Weerden on win at home 

It was Weerden's pass that set up Kirsty Howat for the only goal of the game, as Palace moved ever closer to sealing third-place and a promotion playoff spot.

Reflecting on the team's performance, she said: "I think we deserved a bit more. I think we played most of the game in their half and we only scored one.

"By the end of the game we make it hard for ourselves because it's only 1-0 and then they try everything together to get that one goal back. 

"It's a bit transitional towards the end and I think we could have played better but at least we have three points."

They just let me do what I'm good at and that's creating chances

Her assist also saw her equal the record for the most assists in a single Women’s second-tier season - a milestone set by Kosovare Asllani, who recorded nine in 2024/25. 

Reflecting on this milestone, Weerden said: "It's cool. I just want to help the team. I want to create the chances. I want to create goals, create actions and yeah, that's great.

"Those are really nice stats. I only heard about it today, I didn't know. 

"It's not something I work towards, I just want to be important for the team. I just want to make sure that I provide for the team.

"I do feel really confident here in the team. The players give me a lot of confidence, my coach gives me a lot of confidence.

"They just let me do what I'm good at and that's creating chances. And it pays off, so I'm really happy here."

With just two games left in the regular Women's Super League 2 season, Weerden was clear that the team need to get maximum points.

"Well, it's up to us now that we just win every game. There are two more games left, and we'll see how it ends if we just win these two games. 

"We have six points and we'll see what the others do, but it's up to us now that we just win our games.

"We need to keep doing that because there's two games to go and who knows what can happen," she said.

Many Palace players are now set to go away for the April international break, before they return on Sunday, 26th April with a trip to Sunderland.

**Following that will be the final game of the regular season - Portsmouth at home on Saturday, 2nd May.**

**Kicking off at 15:00 at the VBS Community Stadium, tickets are available via the button below!**

Buy Portsmouth tickets here!

Crystal Palace Women's winger Ashleigh Weerden gave her thoughts after the Eagles extended their unbeaten streak to five, with a 1-0 win over Ipswich on Sunday.

Ashleigh Weerden on the Ipswich win, the WSL2 assist record and promotion

Crystal Palace Women v Ipswich Town Women (2026-04-05)

Martyn, Humphrey and Salako reveal stories of ZDS Cup winning side

Speaking as part of a 'Down Memory Lane' event several years ago, Palace trio Nigel Martyn, John Salako and John Humphrey looked back on the 1990/91 season which culminated in that triumph at Wembley in the Zenith Data Systems Cup.

Despite reaching the FA Cup final in 1990, there was no sign at the beginning of the 1990-91 season of the success that was to come.

“We’d struggled in the league that season although we got to the FA Cup final,” remembered Martyn. “It was the players that came in and took the first-team places – like John Humphrey and Eric Young – that strengthened our team.

“It was the real emergence of Ian Wright and Mark Bright, and then Geoff Thomas and Andy Gray and John Salako were the powerhouses in midfield that created so much attacking flair for us.

“It was an exciting time. We finished third that year, and it showed how much improvement we’d had.”

For Humphrey, Palace’s offer left him with very little thinking time – his career options were, literally, up in the air.

“I was travelling back from Australia on a pre-season tour when I was told that Palace were signing me, and that the club had an accepted an offer,” he recalled. “So I had the flight back from Australia to think things over.

“I wanted to play at the highest level I could because I was 30 at the time. On landing, I met the representative from Palace and, looking at the squad with Wrighty and Brighty up front, you’re always going to score goals. Then with Nigel in goal you’re not going to concede many.

“They were very welcoming. It’s always difficult when you’re coming from somewhere like Charlton, but they were very welcoming. We had some strong players – the vast majority went on to become internationals.”

For Salako, it was the character of the group that stood out alongside their obvious talent.

“It was such a strong group,” he said. “There was such a brilliant team spirit. Everyone got on brilliantly.

“It was just the camaraderie: the team believed in themselves and believed in each other. It was such an incredible unit on and off the pitch.”

A Trip Down Memory Lane | Zenith Data Systems Cup

While the team gelled perfectly, there was no shortage of competitive instincts within the squad. Salako remembers infuriating Palace’s irrepressible strike partnership on the final day of the season – a famous 3-0 victory over Manchester United.

“It was a funny one really,” he explained. “I needed a couple of goals in that last game against Man Utd to get my goal bonus, but with Wrighty and Brighty you weren’t allowed to shoot – it was all about them!

“That last game, I went into it with the mentality that I was going to get a couple of goals and get my bonus, and right from the off Brighty was just moaning. He wasn’t happy and nor was Ian either.

“I ended up getting my two goals and I think Wrighty came up to me and apologised after, but I think Brighty didn’t speak to me for about three weeks…”

The most important day that season, of course, was the final of the Full Members’ Cup – or the Zenith Data Systems Cup as it was better known.

“In its early stages, you just take each game,” said Martyn, “but the further into the competition we got, the more we wanted to win it. Then once you get to Wembley it was a great day for the fans and the players alike, and we were determined to win.”

Against a strong Everton side, Palace were taken to extra time – but as their hard work on the training ground that season began to pay off.

“We were fit, we were strong,” remembered Salako. “The team trained so hard and so well, and we were prepared. Wembley’s such a big pitch, it’s leg sapping. When you think of the great players Everton had in the side, and we finished third where they finished ninth.

“We seemed to find that extra gear to drive down the pitch. There was such confidence and such belief in that side. Going into extra time, we always knew we were solid.

“Andy Gray was probably one of the few people where I can’t remember him putting too much in in training, but he could turn it on and off. Whereas Geoff was just a machine, a proper number eight. He was so fit.”

Martyn remembered the painful training sessions that season.

“The boys will remember going to Farthing Downs and running up and down those hills and absolutely killing, but when you look back it is kind of worth it when you see how we did play in extra time.”

It paid off, and at full-time Palace were celebrating a Wembley victory. But the celebrations themselves were, in the words of Steve Coppell, “amateur hour”.

“I can’t remember what we did,” laughed Salako. “Did we go somewhere? Thorny would probably have just taken us to his local pub!”

Martyn could only recall one aspect.

“It was just a few pints of ruddles at the time!”

It was on this day 35 years ago (7th April, 1991) that Crystal Palace won their first major trophy, the Full Members' Cup, with a 4-1 win against Everton after extra-time at Wembley.

On This Day: Martyn, Humphrey & Salako's stories of ZDS Cup-winning side (1991)

First-team

First-team

Benitez: Every European game now is like a Final

Ashleigh Weerden on the Ipswich win, the WSL2 assist record and promotion

On This Day: Martyn, Humphrey & Salako's stories of ZDS Cup-winning side (1991)

Get ready for Europe!

26Chris
Richards

First-team

First-team

Benitez: Every European game now is like a Final

Ashleigh Weerden on the Ipswich win, the WSL2 assist record and promotion

On This Day: Martyn, Humphrey & Salako's stories of ZDS Cup-winning side (1991)

Get ready for Europe!

26ChrisRichards

26Chris
Richards