Palace appoint Pierre Sage on three-year deal after Glasner exit

Crystal Palace have appointed Pierre Sage as their new head coach on a three-year contract. The 47-year-old Frenchman arrives from Lens and replaces Oliver Glasner, who left at the end of the 2025-26 season.

Sage made a strong impression at Lens, where he became Ligue 1 manager of the year after guiding them to second place and the club’s first Coupe de France triumph in their 120-year history. He had only been in charge for 12 months, but that spell was enough to convince Palace he was the right man for the next stage of the project.

He also brings experience from Lyon, where he spent 14 months as head coach and helped them qualify for the Europa League in 2024-25. At Palace, he will be joined by Jamal Alioui, who worked alongside him at Lens.

Sage has a difficult act to follow after Glasner’s successful spell in south London. The Austrian won Palace’s first major trophy with the FA Cup in 2025, then added the Community Shield and Conference League the following season. That European success means Palace will compete in the Europa League in Sage’s first year.

Palace had also considered other candidates, including former Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola, along with Frank Lampard, Kieran McKenna and Sean Dyche. But Sage’s record and his clear tactical identity appear to have made him the preferred choice.

His teams are known for aggressive pressing and quick attacks after regaining possession. Lens under Sage were particularly effective at forcing turnovers high up the pitch, then turning those moments into chances almost immediately. They were a side built less around long spells of possession and more around pressure, transition and speed.

That approach suggests Palace fans can expect an energetic, front-foot style, with the team looking to win the ball in dangerous areas and attack quickly. Sage said he is arriving with ambition and a desire to continue Palace’s winning habits, while also building something new at the club.