Crystal Palace Appoint Pierre Sage As Head Coach On Three-Year Deal

Crystal Palace confirmed the appointment of Pierre Sage as head coach on a three-year contract, replacing Oliver Glasner after the Eagles’ Conference League success.

“Crystal Palace have appointed Lens manager Pierre Sage as their head coach on a three-year contract”

BBC

Sage, described as 47-year-old and formerly of Lens, signed the deal to prepare for Palace’s Europa League campaign and is set to be backed in the transfer market.

BBC

Palace chairman Steve Parish said: “I am tremendously excited to welcome Pierre, who joins us off the back of a trophy-winning season at Lens as well as a fabulous second-place finish in Ligue 1.”

Sage said: “It’s amazing to be here at Crystal Palace,” adding that “Oliver Glasner achieved some amazing things, and now I have to do the same.”

The Guardian said Palace are in the market for a central midfielder and have held talks with Middlesbrough over Hayden Hackney, while Everton are also interested in the England Under-21 player.

Palace are also believed to be targeting a central defender to provide extra cover for their second European campaign after winning the Conference League under Glasner last month.

Devdiscourse

The Guardian reported that Palace could face a fight to keep hold of Maxence Lacroix, who is part of France’s World Cup squad and is thought to have interest from clubs including Liverpool and Manchester United.

Parish said Palace are moving into “another European campaign off the back of our success in Leipzig,” and that he knows Sage “will give everything to target more success for our fantastic football club.”

BBC said Palace will play Europa League football in Sage’s debut campaign after Glasner’s three trophies during his time in south London, including the FA Cup in 2025, the Community Shield and Conference League last season.

“Il club londinese ha annunciato la nomina dell’allenatore francese, reduce da una stagione positiva al Lens chiusa con il secondo posto in campionato e la vittoria della Coppa di Francia”

Diretta

The BBC described Sage’s Lens side as built on aggressive pressing and a willingness to attack quickly once they won the ball back, with Lens making 426 high turnovers during the 2025-26 season.

BBC added that Lens produced 69 shots and seven goals, and that Lens averaged 51.9% possession in 2025-26 while focusing on what happened “the moment they won it back.”

Sage’s appointment is also framed by the BBC as a continuation of ambition after Glasner said in January he would leave Palace this summer, leaving “big shoes to fill” for the new head coach.