Pierre Sage's backroom staff revealed as Crystal Palace reign gets underway | OneFootball

Frenchman takes over from Oliver Glasner at Selhurst Park

Crystal Palace manager Pierre Sage has confirmed his backroom team ahead of next season.

The Frenchman was appointed Palace manager on a three-year deal last month to succeed Oliver Glasner after the Austrian left the club upon the expiry of his contract before taking over at Nottingham Forest.

Sage was named Ligue 1 manager of the year last season after guiding Lens to a second-place finish and their first Coupe de France triumph in his first year in charge.

Upon his arrival at Palace, the 47-year-old Frenchman said he wanted to continue the winning legacy left by Glasner after the Eagles lifted the FA Cup and Conference League in successive seasons.

With pre-season now underway, Sage has moved to finalise his backroom staff ahead of the new campaign.

New boss: Pierre Sage

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Jamal Alioui - assistant manager

Sage’s assistant manager at both Lyon and Lens, the former Morocco right-back enjoyed a varied playing career for teams in Italy, France, Switzerland, Turkey, Morocco and Qatar.

The 44-year-old only took up coaching five years ago, but has cemented himself as a key member of Sage’s team.

Former Premier League goalkeeper who spent 12 years as a goalkeeping coach at Stoke City, eight of which were in the top-flight.

A continuity hire, he joined Palace in September 2025 and already knows the squad well, playing a major role as they secured European glory last season.

Damien Della Santa - set-piece coach

A trusted member of Sage’s backroom team, serving as an assistant coach while the pair were at Lyon.

Della Santa will arrive at Palace as a set-piece coach, with specialist skills in individual player development and set-piece strategy.

Progressing from Under-18s coach to Under-23s head coach before being promoted to Palace’s first team coaching staff in 2023.

He has shared his coaching duties at Palace with a coaching role in the Republic of Ireland national team since 2024.

Retained: Paddy McCarthy

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Sandy Guichard - fitness coach

The one hire with no prior links to Sage or Palace, Guichard has worked as Monaco’s fitness coach for the last seven years.

Guichard has an impressive CV. Yet Monaco CEO Thiago Scuro described the club’s injury crisis as their “biggest liability” last season and said there would have to be changes to the medical department.

“It isn’t normal that there are so many injuries’ Scuro said in January. “It changes everything in a season. I have to understand it and find a solution. I need responses and, if I don’t get them, we’ll have to think about replacing some people (in the medical department). That is how it will work.”