Crystal Palace have confirmed the appointment of French manager Pierre Sage as their new head coach on a three-year deal.
The 47-year-old, who arrives from French club Lens, steps into the most pressurised job in the club’s modern history.
Oliver Glasner walked away from Selhurst Park at the end of the 2025-26 season after two and a half transformative years.
When the Austrian coach announced in January that he would not renew his contract, the club entered a state of quiet panic. And for good reason.
Glasner did not just manage Crystal Palace. He rewrote their identity. During his tenure, he delivered the first major trophy in the club’s 120-year history—the FA Cup in 2025.
He followed that with the Community Shield and capped it off with a triumphant run to the UEFA Conference League title last season.
That European victory means Palace will compete in the Europa League during Sage’s debut campaign.
Twelve months ago, Sage took over a Lens side that had lost its way. Within a single season, he was named Ligue 1’s Manager of the Year.
He led Lens to a stunning second-place finish and, more remarkably, delivered the first Coupe de France trophy in the club’s 120-year history. It was a fairytale etched in red and gold.
Before Lens, Sage spent 14 months as head coach of Lyon, initially on an interim basis. At a club known for its internal chaos, he brought calm. He guided Lyon to Europa League qualification in the 2024-25 season, proving he could thrive under pressure.
Sage will not walk into Selhurst Park alone. He is bringing his trusted assistant from Lens, Jamal Alioui, a fellow French-Moroccan coach known for his work on defensive set pieces.
The pair share a telepathic understanding that will be crucial during the transition.
