Crystal Palace have reached an agreement with Pierre Sage to become the club’s new manager on a three-year contract.
The 47-year-old Frenchman is set to succeed Oliver Glasner and will officially begin work in south London next month after securing the necessary work permit.
Sage is expected to start on July 6 ahead of the majority of Crystal Palace’s first-team squad returning for pre-season four days later.
The appointment represents a significant step in the coach’s career and fulfils a long-held ambition to work in English football.
Sage arrives at Selhurst Park after an impressive spell with Lens, where he enjoyed one of the most successful seasons in the club’s recent history.
The French side finished second in Ligue 1 under his guidance, ending the campaign six points behind champions Paris Saint-Germain.
He also led Lens to the first Coupe de France triumph in their history, further enhancing his growing reputation as one of France’s most highly rated coaches.
The move to Crystal Palace comes after several weeks of discussions between the two parties.
Palace identified Sage as their preferred candidate following Glasner’s departure announcement and have now completed an agreement ahead of preparations for the new campaign.
The Frenchman will not be arriving alone.
Former Morocco international Jamal Alioui, who worked alongside Sage at Lens, is expected to join the coaching staff as his assistant.
Crystal Palace will also retain continuity within the backroom team.
Existing coaches Paddy McCarthy and Andy Quy are set to remain at the club and will work alongside the new manager as part of the revised coaching structure.
Sage’s journey into senior management has been unconventional.
Before moving into first-team coaching, he held a variety of roles within football including youth development positions, scouting assignments, technical director responsibilities and sports coordination work.
His first major breakthrough came at Lyon, where he took charge in January 2024.
Although his spell there ended a year later, his work attracted widespread praise and helped establish his credentials at the highest level.
His success with Lens further strengthened his reputation and ultimately convinced Crystal Palace that he was the right man to lead the club into a new era.
Sage has previously spoken openly about his admiration for English football.
In an interview last year, he described England as the best country for football and admitted that managing in the Premier League was a personal ambition.
That ambition is now set to become reality.
Crystal Palace will hope Sage can build on the progress made in recent seasons and help the club continue its development in the Premier League.
The coming weeks will now be focused on completing his backroom staff and preparing the squad for the start of pre-season under their new manager.
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