Palace appoint Sage as head coach on three-year deal

Crystal Palace have appointed Lens manager Pierre Sage as their head coach on a three-year contract.

The 47-year-old Frenchman replaces Oliver Glasner, who left the Eagles at the end of the 2025-26 season after two and a half years in charge.

Sage joined Lens 12 months ago and became Ligue 1’s manager of the year, leading Lens to a second-placed finish and the first Coupe de France triumph in the club’s 120-year history.

He previously spent 14 months as head coach of Lyon, initially on an interim basis, and guided them to Europa League qualification in 2024-25.

Palace had been interested in former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, now at Liverpool, with Frank Lampard, Kieran McKenna, and Sean Dyche also reportedly in the mix.

Sage has big shoes to fill after Glasner, who said in January he would leave Palace this summer, won three trophies during his time in south London.

The Austrian led the Eagles to the first major trophy in their history – the FA Cup in 2025 – and followed up by winning the Community Shield and Conference League last season.

Their European triumph means Palace will play Europa League football in Sage’s debut campaign.

He will be joined at the club by Jamal Alioui, his assistant coach at Lens.

“Oliver Glasner achieved some amazing things, and now I have to do the same,” said Sage.

“That’s why we come here with a lot of ambition. The dynamic here is really positive, and we are in this mindset too.

“We won last year – and we want to continue in this way, in a new club, a new project, but with a lot of winning habits.”

Sage’s Lens side were built on aggressive pressing and a willingness to attack quickly once they won the ball back.

The Opta numbers show a team intent on regaining possession high up the pitch. Lens made 426 high turnovers during the 2025-26 season, frequently turning those moments into chances – producing 69 shots and seven goals.

The focus was not just on winning the ball, but on doing it in areas where they could immediately threaten. That approach shapes how they attacked.

Lens produced 65 direct attacks and 55 fast breaks last season, highlighting a clear preference for moving forward at speed rather than recycling possession.

Their overall profile reflects that trade-off.

Lens averaged 51.9% possession in 2025-26 – but their game was less about long spells on the ball and more about what happened the moment they won it back.

It speaks to a deliberate strategy, rather than a lack of control.

The result was the clear identity of a side less concerned about dominating the ball and more focused on controlling games through pressure, regains and rapid transitions.