Lens not unhappy with Pierre-Emerick Sage: Background on joining Crystal Palace as head coach
Pierre Sage led Lens to the Coupe de France title and Ligue 1 second place in just one season. He has now been appointed as the head coach of Crystal Palace. Lens management welcomed the change and clarified that it will not hinder their project.
France club Lens have honored their former head coach Pierre Sage. He served the club for just one season and led the club to fame during that time. Under the leadership of 47-year-old Sage, Lens won the Coupe de France for the first time. A 3-1 win over Nice in the final gave the club one of the most memorable performances in history. Finished second behind Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1 and qualified for the Champions League. Lens completed a good season with 22 wins, 4 draws and 8 losses in a total of 34 top-flight matches.
While it was a surprise that Sage resigned as coach amid these successes, the club's management maintained that there was no conflict with them. "Part of our responsibility is to manage the exits of many celebrities. Now not only the players but also the coaches. The club's project is ongoing," explained Lens General Manager Benjamin Parrott.
Currently Lens has appointed Dino Topmöller as their new head coach. A former Eintracht Frankfurt coach, he has joined Lens on a two-year deal. They will play their first competitive match against PSG on August 18 in the Trophee des Champions. They will open the 2026-27 Ligue 1 season against Auxerre.