Crystal Palace have officially confirmed the departure of Pierre Sage. The 47-year-old Frenchman leaves alongside three members of his coaching staff: Jamal Alioui, Damien Della Santa and Sandy Guichard. Sage succeeded Oliver Glasner in June, signing a three-year contract. Less than five months later, his time in south London has come to an abrupt end.
Just seven points from ten Premier League games
Palace managed only two wins and a draw in their opening ten Premier League fixtures. With seven points, they sit bottom of the table, two points adrift of safety.
Recent results hastened Sage’s departure. Last Sunday, Palace suffered a 3-1 home defeat to Liverpool, their fourth successive league loss. The humiliating 5-0 defeat away to rivals Brighton & Hove Albion had already intensified the pressure on the Frenchman. Palace have won just once in their last eight matches across all competitions, away to Fulham in the EFL Cup.
Their defensive record has been particularly alarming. Palace have conceded 24 goals, more than any other Premier League side. They have also allowed opponents 189 shots and 372 touches inside their penalty area, both league-high figures. Set pieces and defensive transitions have repeatedly exposed serious weaknesses.
Glasner’s success raised expectations
Sage inherited a club that had enjoyed the most successful period in its history under Oliver Glasner. The Austrian guided Palace to the FA Cup and Community Shield in 2025, followed by the Conference League title in the 2025/26 season. Glasner subsequently departed for Nottingham Forest.
His successor arrived with an impressive reputation, having enjoyed successful spells at Olympique Lyonnais and RC Lens. At Lens, Sage won the Coupe de France, finished second in Ligue 1 and was named the French league’s Manager of the Year.
At Palace, he sought to introduce a more attacking approach but failed to balance his philosophy with defensive solidity. His side tried to regain possession high up the pitch, yet repeatedly struggled to cope with opponents breaking forward. Despite Sage’s emphasis on proactive football, Palace averaged just 43 per cent possession.
The circumstances were far from ideal. Palace lost two important defenders, Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Muñoz, during the summer. Marc Guéhi had already joined Manchester City in January. An injury to Chadi Riad compounded those problems, while key attacking players Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaïla Sarr also endured repeated spells on the sidelines. Despite 11 summer signings, Palace lacked both defensive cohesion and experienced cover at the back.
Tensions behind the scenes
According to The Guardian, disagreements over recruitment also strained Sage’s relationship with the club’s hierarchy. The Frenchman was reportedly unhappy with the defensive reinforcements brought in during the summer.
Following the defeat to Liverpool, Sage publicly called for further signings in the January transfer window. His comments are understood to have gone down badly with chairman Steve Parish.
The report also suggested that some of the manager’s team selections had caused frustration within the club. Nevertheless, Sage retained the backing of sections of the Palace support. Even during the recent run of defeats, fans at Selhurst Park continued to chant his name.
Thomas Frank closing in on Palace job
Thomas Frank has emerged as the clear favourite to take over. According to several English media outlets, the 53-year-old Dane is already in advanced talks with Crystal Palace.
Frank guided Brentford into the Premier League in 2021 and subsequently established the club in the top flight. His move to Tottenham Hotspur in the summer of 2025 proved far less successful, however. He was dismissed in February 2026 after less than eight months in charge.
The Dane had already held talks with Palace last summer before the club eventually appointed Sage. Former Premier League managers Sean Dyche and Vítor Pereira have also been mentioned as possible alternatives.
Palace return to action on 21 November with an away fixture against newly promoted Coventry City. A home game against Hull City and a London derby away to Chelsea follow. Whoever takes charge will have little time to settle into the job.
