Player who left Crystal Palace in 2015 is now back at Selhurst Park as a staff member

The 33-year-old left Crystal Palace for Cardiff City back in January 2015 under the management of Alan Pardew, after making 51 appearances for the Eagles following a 2010 move from Southend United.

O’Keefe memorably delivered a fantastic performance in the 2013 Championship Play-Off final win over Watford, shining at Wembley after replacing the injured Kagisho Dikgacoi in just the 17th minute as we secured a 1-0 victory.

The man from Eye also scored the goal which sealed our first three points back in the Premier League, whipping a fine strike in off the crossbar against Sunderland to secure a 3-1 win back in August 2013.

O’Keefe did recently sign for Isthmian Premier Division side Chatham United, although it is assumed he will juggle this commitment alongside his work in the Crystal Palace academy.

Proper cult hero

O’Keefe may not have been the most glamorous footballer Crystal Palace fans have ever seen, but he was a fully committed squad player who stepped up at crucial moments.

As aforesaid, the Englishman’s display in that Championship Play-Off final win over Watford was immense, especially as he came on cold due to the sudden nature of Dikgacoi’s injury.

O’Keefe came close to opening the scoring himself with a low, driven effort after a wonderful first touch, while he also showed the nasty side needed to overcome these huge fixtures when kicking the ball into Almen Abdi’s face.

He still looks back fondly on his time at Crystal Palace, telling the South London Press in July 2023: “I have so much time to talk about the club. I love it. The memories and what it gave me – it’s such a brilliant place.

“For the club to establish itself in the Premier League for such a long time now is a credit to everyone involved with that football club. It’s rare to find a team that comes up and survives ten – going on 11 – years. I take pride in it.”