November 12
Crystal Palace has officially announced the dismissal of its French manager, Pierre Sage, just months after he took charge. The decision follows a decline in the team's performance in the Premier League and a failure to achieve the expected momentum this season.
In an official statement released on Thursday, the London-based club confirmed: "Crystal Palace Football Club can confirm that Pierre Sage has left his position as manager."
The decision comes after a string of poor results that left the French manager’s future in jeopardy; he managed only two wins in 10 Premier League matches, alongside five defeats, ultimately failing to deliver the necessary improvements to the team's performance and results.
Sage’s departure follows, by just a few hours, the decision by Manchester United’s management to dismiss their manager, Michael Carrick.
A recent 3-1 defeat to Liverpool at Crystal Palace’s home ground dealt a significant blow to Sage’s position, as the team slipped to the bottom of the league table—far from the standard the club’s leadership had envisioned at the start of the season.
Crystal Palace’s struggles have not been limited to the Premier League; the team has also faced difficulties in the Europa League, securing only five points from their first four matches—a tally that has failed to provide the stability needed to continue their continental campaign with confidence. Sage took charge of Crystal Palace after deciding to leave the French club Lens, seeking a fresh opportunity in the Premier League and a new challenge in his managerial career. However, the results failed to help him establish a firm footing at the London club.
As defeats mounted and there were no clear signs of improvement in performance, the pressure on the French manager intensified—all while the club’s board was hoping for the team to regain its balance and compete more effectively, both domestically and in continental competitions.
According to reports, Sage failed to build a strong dynamic within the squad or demonstrate enough to convince the club’s leadership that he could turn things around. Consequently, the board decided to end his tenure and start a new chapter, searching for a manager capable of salvaging the season.
Crystal Palace has already begun evaluating several candidates to succeed the French manager. Thomas Frank is among the top options, alongside Sean Dyche, who possesses extensive experience in managing teams facing the threat of relegation from the Premier League.
Dyche has an impressive track record in such challenges; he led Burnley to promotion to the Premier League twice and successfully kept them in the top flight for six consecutive seasons. He also managed to save Everton from relegation during his time with the club. Thus, Pierre Sage’s English adventure comes to an abrupt end. Having left Lens in search of an opportunity to prove his abilities in the Premier League, he failed to deliver the results necessary to secure his position—leaving Crystal Palace to begin the search for a new manager capable of steering the team back onto the right track.
