Crystal Palace have appointed Pierre Sage as their new manager on a three-year contract, succeeding Oliver Glasner after the Austrian left the UEFA Conference League winners at the end of last season.
Sage's Impressive Tenure at Lens
The 47-year-old Frenchman joins the Premier League club after a standout season with French side Lens, where he guided the team to a second-place finish in Ligue 1, securing Champions League qualification. Under his leadership, Lens also won the French Cup for the first time in the club's history, adding a historic trophy to their campaign.
Sage's achievements in his debut season with Lens earned him the Ligue 1 Manager of the Year award, a recognition that convinced Palace to pursue him following Glasner's departure after the Conference League final victory over Raya Vallecano.
Sage's Ambition for Palace
Expressing his excitement, Sage said, "It's amazing to be here at Crystal Palace. I am excited by the history of the club, and by recent seasons. Oliver Glasner achieved some amazing things, and now I have to do the same. That's why we come here with a lot of ambition." He added, "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's Recent Success and Future Prospects
Crystal Palace's Conference League triumph secured their place in next season's Europa League, continuing the south London club's upward trajectory. In 2025, they defeated Manchester City at Wembley to win the FA Cup for the first time in their history. Chairman Steve Parish expressed confidence in Sage's ability to build on Glasner's legacy, stating, "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. As we move into another European campaign off the back of our success in Leipzig, I know he will give everything to target more success for our fantastic football club."
