Crystal Palace to appoint QPR's Imtiaz Ahmad as new head of sports medicine

Crystal Palace are set to hire Dr Imtiaz Ahmad as their new head of sports medicine.

The Eagles have been searching for a candidate to fill the role after it was revealed last month that Dr Zaf Iqbal will be joining Arsenal this summer.

Ahmad, who has been with QPR since 2016, is now set to move to Palace as Iqbal’s replacement.

He originally worked for the Rs as their club doctor but was promoted to the role of head of medicine two years later. Since 2022, he has been the head of medicine and performance in west London.

Iqbal, meanwhile, has been with Palace for eight years after previously working at Liverpool and Tottenham.

Arsenal moved to hire him after head of medical services Gary O’Driscoll left to join Manchester United last year. O’Driscoll is now United’s head of sports medicine.

Palace are set to appoint Oliver Glasner as their new manager to replace Roy Hodgson, who is said to be recovering well after he collapsed in front of players and staff during a training session on Thursday and was taken to hospital for tests.

Glasner was at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium scouting on Saturday ahead of Palace’s trip there on March 2, and Sky Germany reported over the weekend that the former Eintracht Frankfurt manager had agreed a contract at Selhurst Park until 2026 with the option of a further year.