Crystal Palace have officially appointed Pierre Sage as their new head coach. The Frenchman has signed a three-year contract with the club, taking over from Oliver Glasner, who departed at the conclusion of the 2025-26 season. Sage joins Palace after a successful tenure at RC Lens, where he spent 12 months.
During his time at Lens, Sage was recognised as Ligue 1‘s manager of the year. He guided the club to a second-place finish in the league and secured their first Coupe de France triumph in the club’s 120-year history. This achievement marked a significant milestone for Lens, who finished six points behind champions Paris Saint-Germain in the league.
A New Era at Selhurst Park
The appointment of Sage comes after Palace had reportedly shown interest in other candidates, including former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, who is now with Liverpool. Frank Lampard, Kieran McKenna, and Sean Dyche were also mentioned as potential contenders for the role. Sage emerged as the preferred choice after Iraola’s move to Liverpool.
Sage expressed his ambition for his new role, acknowledging the achievements of his predecessor. “Oliver Glasner achieved some amazing things, and now I have to do the same,” Sage stated. He added, “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.”
Palace chairman Steve Parish welcomed Sage, highlighting his trophy-winning season at Lens and the second-place finish in Ligue 1. Parish noted that with Palace entering another European campaign, Sage is expected to target further success for the club.
Sage’s coaching philosophy, as demonstrated at Lens, is characterised by aggressive pressing and quick attacks after winning possession. Data from the 2025-26 season shows that Lens executed 426 high turnovers, leading to 69 shots and seven goals. This approach prioritises regaining the ball in advanced areas to create immediate scoring opportunities.
His team at Lens also favoured rapid transitions, producing 65 direct attacks and 55 fast breaks last season. While their average possession stood at 51.9% in 2025-26, their strategy focused more on controlling games through pressure, effective regains, and swift offensive movements rather than prolonged spells of possession. This tactical identity suggests a deliberate strategy aimed at controlling matches through intensity and quick play.
European Football Awaits
Oliver Glasner‘s tenure at Palace was marked by significant success, including the club’s first major trophy, the FA Cup in 2025. He followed this by winning the Community Shield and the Conference League last season. The Conference League victory means Crystal Palace will participate in Europa League football during Sage’s inaugural season.
Prior to joining Lens, Sage spent 14 months as head coach of Lyon, initially on an interim basis, where he guided them to Europa League qualification in 2024-25. He will be joined at Crystal Palace by Jamal Alioui, who served as his assistant coach at Lens. Sage’s contract with Crystal Palace runs until the summer of 2029.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
