Pierre Sage speaks for the first time on decision to become new Crystal Palace manager

Pierre Sage speaks for the first time on the decision to become new Crystal Palace manager, signing a three year contract.

He is set to start on 6th July, with his assistant, Jamal Alioui, to also join the Frenchman at Palace, and more staff to follow. Patrick McCarthy and Andy Quy are to remain as part of the setup.

Pierre Sage guided Lens to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France title for the 2025/26 season.

Pierre is Palace 🦅

We are delighted to confirm the appointment of Pierre Sage as Manager.

— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) June 15, 2026

The club said in a statement via their website:

Crystal Palace Football Club are delighted to confirm the appointment of Pierre Sage as Manager.

Last season’s Ligue 1 Manager of the Year, and Coupe de France winner, Sage has signed a three-year contract to lead the Eagles, pending confirmation of his visa.

The 47-year-old Frenchman arrives off the back of an extraordinary first season in charge of RC Lens, not only securing the club’s first-ever Coupe de France trophy – having reached the Final for the first time in 28 years – but also qualification for the UEFA Champions League for just the fourth time in their history.

Lens’ development under Sage saw them register a six-place and 18-point improvement in Ligue 1 in just a single season, leading the table for six matchweeks. His tenure at Lens concluded with a 67.5 win percentage in all competitions.

Sage also made an outstanding impact at Olympique Lyonnais, initially being appointed Interim Manager in November 2023 at a point the team were bottom of the Ligue 1 table. Les Gones went on to win 15 of their next 20 league matches under Sage, securing UEFA Europa League qualification and reaching another Coupe de France Final.

Also previously serving as assistant manager at Lyon-Duchère and Red Star, while fulfilling a variety of roles throughout French football, Sage’s career – spanning over two decades – has seen him develop extensive experience across numerous holistic levels and disciplines in the game.

Chairman Steve Parish said: “I am tremendously excited to welcome Pierre, who joins us off the back of a trophy-winning season at Lens as well as a fabulous second-place finish in Ligue 1.

“As we move into another European campaign off the back of our success in Leipzig, I know he will give everything to target more success for our fantastic Football Club.”

Pierre Sage said: “It’s amazing to be here at Crystal Palace. I am excited by the history of the club, and by recent seasons. Oliver Glasner achieved some amazing things, and now I have to do the same. That’s why we come here with a lot of ambition.

“The dynamic here is really positive, and we are in this mindset too. We won last year – and we want to continue in this way, in a new club, a new project, but with a lot of winning habits.

“We want to give our best every day for the team, for the club, for the people, and especially for the fans, because when you love a club in England, it’s for all your life.

“We want to give the fans what they want. We want to make the fans smile, to be proud of the team, and to be proud of the club – so we will give our best for you, and we are together.”

Further information on Pierre’s coaching staff will be confirmed in due course.

In his interview, he said, per the club’s website: “It’s amazing – for me, it’s a dream to be in England, especially in the Premier League.

“This [opportunity] is a really good surprise, and a big challenge.

“For me, first of all, football came from this country and the Premier League is the best league in the world. To be here is really special, because you have to put your level at its highest position.

“We want to give our best every day for the team, for the club, for people and especially for the fans because hen you love a club in England, it’s for all of your life.

“It’s your family sometimes, and you need to keep that. We want to give them what they want.”

Fans react as details emerge on Crystal Palace appointing Pierre Sage as new head coach

Sage on his approach to introducing himself to his new players: “We have to adapt the contents and the rhythm to players who came from the World Cup. But they will not all come back on the same days, so we have to adapt for every one of them.

“If they play, if they don’t play too, we have to take that into consideration. But the most important thing is to be ready for the league and to be competitive as soon as we can.”

Palace are set to enjoy a second successive season in European competition in 2026/27, off the back of their success in the UEFA Conference League, Sage added: “It’s a positive pressure because when you win, you want to win more.

“In Europe, I played in the Europa League two years ago and it was really exciting. You have good games with a lot of intensity. If you give your best, like you [Palace] did last year, you are able to do things that other people can’t think about.

“With a good surprise, you can make a big party at the end of the season!”

On Palace specifically, Sage added: “[I am excited by] the history of the club, and by recent seasons. Oliver Glasner achieved some amazing things, and now I have to do the same. That’s why we come here with a lot of ambition.

“The dynamic here is really positive, and we are in this mindset too. We won last year –and we want to continue in this way, in a new club, a new project, but with a lot of winning habits.

“For me, the squad has to be similar to the people who will come to the stadium to see us play – we have to be in line with what they want to see.

“To be proud to be from South London, we have to give a good solution to the team to play as the league wants, as the league needs, but also how the fans want to see their team.

“We will prepare in a good way to give them what they are looking for.”

Here’s how fans reacted as Pierre Sage speaks for the first time on the decision to become new Crystal Palace manager…

@FYPFanzine: He’s here and he’s perfect.

@CarpFisher23: Absolutely delighted about this! Same system as glasner pretty much! What a signing, nice and early to well done parish 🙏♥️💙 #cpfc

@CalBuchanan_: Massive credit to the club for this. Many said we would go backwards big time after OG with a Dyche/Lampard type of appointment but Sage is as good and ambitious we could get and as many others could. Seems like we are very much on an upward curve still! 🦅 #CPFC

@MattJennings337: Very good manager hope he adapts well to the premier league looking forward to what the season brings

@DarrenR_85:
I was sold when he said
“Historical things happen here”
Exciting things ahead 🔴🔵⚽️🦅
#cpfc #Sage

@shave_stuart: Exciting appointment. Should be remembered, that if Glasner stayed it is unlikely that he would have won a trophy every season. What’s important is that we give this guy the tools to continue the journey. Progression doesn’t have to mean another trophy so back him. #cpfc

@PalaceAlt: Man I am so relieved, credit to the board where due. Thank fuck it wasn’t someone like Frank, Dyche or Lampard.

@SelhurstExpress:
“When you love a club in England, it’s for all your life”
Keep talking like Pierre and you’ll have no problems fitting in Monsieur ❤️💙
#CPFC