Crystal Palace Appoint Pierre Sage On a Three-year Contract

The Frenchman will replace former Palace boss Oliver Glasner, who left the Eagles at the end of the 2025/26 after nearly three years at Selhurst Park.

Sage, 47, joined Lens 12 months ago and was awarded Ligue 1’s manager of the year after leading the club to a second-placed finish and their first ever Coupe de France trophy 120 years after the club was founded.

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 seemed to be leaning towards the appointment of former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola but the Spaniard opted for a move to Anfield to take over from Arne Slot.

Frank Lampard, Sean Dyche and Kieran McKenna were all reportedly in the mix but the Eagles now have their man to replace UEFA Conference League manager Glasner.

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.”