Nigeria prospect Olise eclipses Routledge and Zaha to set Crystal Palace record

The youngster’s impact against Bournemouth helped him overtake the Englishman and Ivorian to set a club record

 

Michael Olise has written his name in Crystal Palace history books thanks to his assist against Bournemouth on Saturday evening.

The France youth international of Nigerian descent set up Eberechi Eze for his second goal in 58th minute at Selhurst Park.

With that, the 21-year-old became the first player in Crystal Palace’s history to record 10 assists in a single English elite division season.

Prior to the fixture against the Cherries, Olise had held the record alongside Wayne Routledge and Wilfried Zaha.

While ex-England youth international Routledge achieved the mark first during the 2004-05 campaign, Cote d’Ivoire international Zaha equalled that feat during an impressive 2016-17 season.

Thanks to his heroics, Olise – who is eligible to represent Nigeria at senior level played from start to finish as the Eagles tamed the Cherries 2-0.

The youngster is not new to setting records. Against West Ham United on January 1, 2022, he became the first Crystal Palace player to score and assist after coming off the bench in the Premier League fixture.

“I’m very pleased. I thought it was an excellent performance from the team,” Hodgson told the media after the game.

“At this stage of the season, this time of year, you’re never quite sure whether the players are going to find that inner motivation.

“I always believed they could and they would, but to do it in such a dominant fashion as they did this afternoon is obviously very rewarding for them, but also for us as a coaching staff. We were delighted to see it.

“Both goals were excellent in the build-up, especially the first, which involved even more passes, but the second – with that incredible cross-field pass from Michael Olise and the wonderful shot [from Eze]…”

With this result, Palace moved to 12th in the log having accrued 43 points from 36 matches played so far.

They travel to Craven Cottage for their next fixture against Fulham on May 20.