Crystal Palace appoint Pierre Sage as head coach

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.”