Crystal Palace Parts Ways with Coach Pierre Sage Amid Struggles
Crystal Palace's Coaching Change
In a significant move, Crystal Palace has dismissed head coach Pierre Sage after only 16 matches at the helm, following a lackluster start to the Premier League season that has left the team at the bottom of the league table.
Sage, who took over in June on a three-year deal to succeed Oliver Glasner, managed to secure just two wins in 10 league games, with the team facing challenges in both consistency and defensive performance.
This decision comes on the heels of a disappointing 3-1 home loss to Liverpool, which further highlighted the struggles under the French coach.
On Thursday, Crystal Palace confirmed that three members of Sage's coaching team—Jamal Alioui, Damien Della Santa, and Sandy Guichard—have also departed from the club.
In an official statement, the club indicated that they would provide updates regarding the search for a new manager in due course.
The current season has been particularly tough for Palace, who have conceded 24 goals in the Premier League, the highest number among all teams this season.
Sage's exit represents another hurdle for the club, especially following Glasner's departure, who had led Palace through their most successful period, securing the FA Cup, UEFA Conference League, and Community Shield titles.
However, the summer transfer window saw the loss of key players from that successful squad, including Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Munoz, and Palace was the least active club in terms of spending during that period.
Reports suggest that Thomas Frank, the former Tottenham Hotspur manager, is the frontrunner to take over at Selhurst Park. Frank has been without a club since his dismissal from Tottenham in February.
Previously, he was a candidate during Palace's managerial search last summer before the club opted for Sage.
Frank enjoyed a fruitful seven-year tenure at Brentford from 2018 to 2025, leading them to the Premier League and achieving a ninth-place finish in the 2023 season.
After his stint at Brentford, he joined Tottenham as a replacement for Ange Postecoglou but was let go after less than eight months, with Spurs struggling in the league.
Crystal Palace has also explored other potential candidates, including Frank Lampard, Sean Dyche, Vitor Pereira, Kim Hellberg, Vitor Matos, and Tony Popovic, with Jens Berthel Askou and Ole Werner also reportedly in the mix.
With the club currently languishing at the bottom of the Premier League, the new manager will face the urgent task of turning around results and addressing the team's defensive issues to avoid relegation.