Crystal Palace sacked manager Pierre Sage..

Crystal Palace announced on their official website on Thursday that head coach Pierre Sage has been sacked.

In Crystal Palace's official statement, the club expressed gratitude for Sage’s contributions but noted that, due to poor results, they were forced to make this difficult decision.

Additionally, members of Sage’s coaching staff, Jamal Alioui, Damien Della Santa, and Sandy Guichard, have also been relieved of their duties, effective immediately.

Following a 3-1 defeat to Liverpool last week, several British media outlets had already speculated that Sage, alongside Manchester United manager Michael Carrick, was at high risk of becoming one of the first Premier League managers to be sacked this season, that speculation has now proven accurate.

As for a potential successor, The Athletic's resident renowned transfer journalist David Ornstein, has exclusively reported that Crystal Palace is likely seeking a candidate with prior Premier League experience, specifically someone accustomed to managing teams in relegation battles.

It is understood that the club has set its sights on Thomas Frank, who is currently unattached.

Ornstein reports that Frank has begun discussions with the Crystal Palace board regarding the head coach position, and that he is open to taking on the role.

About Pierre Sage

The 47-year-old Sage was born on May 16, 1979, in Lons-le-Saunier, France and did not have a career as a professional footballer.

He joined the youth academy of a non-league club at the age of six, but by 16, he had shifted his focus toward football management. At 24, he served as a technical manager for a non-league club.

In 2003, Sage gained experience as a scout intern at Châteauroux. Following this, he went on to hold positions as a technical director and team manager at various non-league clubs. 

In the summer of 2013, Sage was appointed head coach of Chambéry; between 2016 and 2018, he served as team manager for both Sedan and Lyon-La Duchère.

In the summer of 2019, Sage was appointed head coach of the Lyon youth academy, but he later moved to Red Star to serve as an assistant coach.

In the summer of 2023, Sage returned to Lyon as head coach of the youth academy. That November, he took over as interim head coach following the sacking of Fabio Grosso, and was appointed to the position on a permanent basis the following January.

However, due to a subsequent run of poor results, Sage was sacked in January 2025.

That same summer, Sage was appointed Lens head coach.

During his tenure at Lens, Sage gained significant recognition for leading the club to its first Coupe de France title win since 1998, setting a new club record in the process, and for an unexpected qualification for the UEFA Champions League.

In the summer of 2026, Sage was appointed as the new Crystal Palace head coach, succeeding Oliver Glasner, who had departed for Nottingham Forest.

However, after 16 Premier League matches, Sage was sacked due to poor results.

Image source: Internet / Crystal Palace official website