Pierre Sage’s journey to the Premier League: ‘Crystal Palace is getting an absolute savant’ | OneFootball

Pierre Sage has reached the Premier League with Crystal Palace on a three-year contract to replace Oliver Glasner, bringing an adaptable, high-pressing blueprint shaped at Lyon and Lens. According to NY Times, the 47-year-old has agreed to take charge at Selhurst Park.

At Lyon he inherited a side bottom in October 2023, initially as an interim, and lifted them to sixth and the Europa League by season’s end. They were sixth again when he was dismissed in February 2025.

Former owner John Textor later called his decision to sack Sage “one of the dumbest decisions of my life”, and added Palace are getting “an absolute savant” of a coach. He told The Athletic.

He took over Lens last summer and finished second in Ligue 1, six points behind PSG, while winning the Coupe de France by beating Nice 3-1. His record there read 28 wins, four draws and eight defeats in all competitions, with 90 scored and 46 conceded.

A late-blooming coach, Sage worked at CS Belley, Chambery and Lyon-Duchere, then became Lyon’s academy manager before promotion to first-team coach in November 2023 after Fabio Grosso’s exit. He favours a 3-4-2-1, pressing high and dropping into 5-4-1, and has stressed flexibility depending on players and opponents.

That approach mirrors much of Glasner’s, offering continuity without major overhaul. Glasner previously insisted he was no magician and went on to deliver unprecedented success at Selhurst Park.

Source: NY Times