Bruno Genesio and Pierre Sage, Lyon roots shape contrasting paths before Lille v Lens | OneFootball

Bruno Genesio and Pierre Sage, both schooled at OL, meet in the north of France on Saturday at 21:05. According to L'Équipe, the Lille and Lens coaches never worked together but each owes much to Lyon.

On arriving at Lille in summer 2024, Genesio recruited Jérémie Bréchet and Antonin Da Fonseca from Sage’s OL staff. He has not beaten Sage in two tries, drawing with Lyon 1-1 and losing 3-0 to Lens.

Genesio succeeded Hubert Fournier on 24 December 2015, then after a 2-3 Coupe de France loss to Rennes chose in April 2019 to leave. He departed with a 55.1% win rate in 185 matches and European football every season.

Sage, appointed in late November 2023, stayed 424 days, lifting Lyon to sixth and the Europa League and reaching the club’s first Coupe de France final since 2012, lost 1-2 to Paris-SG. Despite a 57.1% win rate, John Textor dismissed him on 27 January 2025 after a slump and a shock exit to Bourgoin-Jallieu of National 3, 2-2 then 2-4 on penalties.

At Lille, Genesio quickly delivered, reaching the Champions League via the qualifiers and advancing to the last 16 before elimination by Borussia Dortmund. This season, despite major departures, he is still chasing a Champions League place after going out to Aston Villa in the Europa League, 0-1 and 0-2.

At Lens, Sage has emphasised continuity on ideas from Franck Haise and then Will Still. His 2.19 league points per match and a first Coupe de France semi-final since 2010 have cemented his standing at Bollaert, where he is contracted to 2028, and a trophy would move him closer to Daniel Leclercq.

Source: L'Équipe