Crystal Palace have appointed Lens manager Pierre Sage as their head coach on a three-year contract, the club announced on Wednesday, tasking the 47-year-old Frenchman with following Oliver Glasner’s trophy-laden reign.
Glasner left the Eagles at the end of the 2025-26 season after two and a half years in charge, having delivered the first major trophy in Palace’s history — the FA Cup in 2025 — followed by the Community Shield and the Conference League last season. That European triumph means Palace will play Europa League football in Sage’s debut campaign.
“Crystal Palace appoint Lens manager Pierre Sage on a three-year contract to replace Oliver Glasner.”
Sage joins after a remarkable 12 months at Lens, where he was named Ligue 1’s manager of the year after leading the club to a second-placed finish and the first Coupe de France triumph in their 120-year history. He previously spent 14 months as head coach of Lyon, initially on an interim basis, guiding them to Europa League qualification in 2024-25.
Palace had also been interested in former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, now at Liverpool, with Frank Lampard, Kieran McKenna and Sean Dyche reportedly in the mix.
Sage’s Lens side were built on aggressive pressing and rapid transitions. According to Opta, Lens made 426 high turnovers during the 2025-26 season, producing 69 shots and seven goals from those moments. They recorded 65 direct attacks and 55 fast breaks, reflecting a clear preference for attacking at speed. Their average possession of 51.9% was less about controlling the ball and more about controlling games through pressure and regains.
“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 will be joined at Selhurst Park by Jamal Alioui, his assistant coach at Lens.