Crystal Palace are close to hiring Pierre Sage as a replacement for Oliver Glasner.
Steve Parish has moved quickly after Liverpool hijacked talks with Andoni Iraola – and is now on the verge of bringing the Frenchman to Selhurst Park after his impressive work at RC Lens last season.
The 47-year-old guided RC Lens to second in Ligue 1 and also won the Coupe de France with a 3-1 win over OGC Nice in the final.
As Crystal Palace close in on Sage – according to The Times – let us take a closer look at what the former Lyon boss could bring to south London.
What was your favourite part about the trip to Leipzig? 🇩🇪
Meet Pierre Sage: The man who ousted Wilfried Zaha and sets up like Oliver Glasner
Above all, the man born in Lons-le-Saunier probably stood out to Parish as the most suitable option to replace Glasner due to the formation he typically uses.
Sage normally adopts a 3-4-2-1 system, the same shape Crystal Palace have played in ever since February 2024 when Glasner arrived to replace Roy Hodgson.
BBC Sport describe it as a tactical system “built not only on aggressive pressing but also a willingness to attack quickly once the ball is won back” – sound familiar?
It means the likes of Tyrick Mitchell and Daniel Munoz will not have to rediscover how to play as traditional full-backs after more than two years of impressive performances as wing-backs, while the trio of Maxence Lacroix, Chris Richards and Jaydee Canvot won’t need to be broken up either.
Sage has also gained a reputation in France for being an incredibly calm figure who rarely gives his players a dressing down in public – another similarity to Glasner.
Few Crystal Palace fans knew much about Glasner before his arrival in south London – despite an impressive CV – and Sage seems to tick that exact same box. He could potentially be a superb appointment by Parish if he can replicate his efforts with RC Lens.
You can see his record so far with RC Lens below.
| Matches | W | D | L | Goals | Points | PPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 28 | 4 | 8 | 90:46 | 88 | 2.2 |
Sage – who Odsonne Edouard adores – has also dealt accordingly with difficult characters in the past, including none other than Wilfried Zaha while the pair worked together at Lyon.
Back in September 2024, Zaha reacted angrily to being taken off just 52 minutes into his first Ligue 1 start during a clash against Toulouse.
More drama ensued when the Ivorian allegedly refused to train in October 2024 after a UEFA Europa League game against Rangers, where Sage wanted those who had not featured in the match to take part in a session to maintain fitness.
Sage then dropped Zaha, who ended up leaving for Charlotte FC just weeks later in January 2025.
It proves that Sage is not only an impressive tactician, but he can also handle difficult characters behind the scenes.
A lot can be taken from how local fans react as well, and the general sadness amongst the RC Lens supporters at this news only bodes well for us at Selhurst Park.
Where do you think we can finish in the UEFA Europa League next season after victory in Leipzig? 🤔
If Nottingham Forest can reach the last four while in a relegation battle, surely we can at least make the final? 👀
Be sure to keep an eye on this situation, as an announcement could be just a matter of days away.
- Full name: Pierre Sage
- Age: 47
- Date of birth: 5 May 1979
- Nationality: France
- Place of birth: Lons-le-Saunier
- Club: RC Lens
