Crystal Palace have reached a definitive agreement with Pierre Sage to become their new manager, bringing an end to a prolonged search for a new head coach. The 47-year-old arrives in London on Monday morning to finalize his contract, according to L’Équipe. Sage joins Palace after a successful season with RC Lens, where he secured a second-place finish in Ligue 1 and won the Coupe de France.
Palace identified Sage as their primary target, and the move will allow him to work with a larger backroom staff than he had at Lens. Jamal Alioui will continue as his assistant, while Damien Della Santa, previously a colleague at Olympique Lyonnais focusing on individual player development and set-piece strategies, will also join. Sandy Guichard, who spent seven seasons as a fitness coach at AS Monaco, completes the quartet as the new preparateur physique.
Sage has agreed to a three-year contract with Crystal Palace, representing a significant increase in his earnings. His monthly salary will be approximately four times greater than what he received in Ligue 1, reaching €100,000 gross. RC Lens will receive a transfer fee of €3 million, with a potential additional €2 million in bonuses, including a guaranteed payment should Crystal Palace maintain their Premier League status.
Crystal Palace players are currently impacted by international commitments, with 13 members of the squad participating in the World Cup. The team is scheduled to resume training on July 10th. Interestingly, both Crystal Palace and RC Lens are set to participate in the Como Cup, a friendly tournament held on the shores of Lake Como from July 28th to August 1st, potentially offering an early opportunity for Sage to face his former club. This appointment marks a rapid ascent for Sage, who has quickly established himself as a promising managerial talent in European football. His success at Lens demonstrated his ability to build a competitive squad and challenge at the highest level of French football, and he will be tasked with replicating that success in the Premier League.
