Crystal Palace have dismissed Pierre Sage after just five months at the helm, with the club rooted to the bottom of the Premier League. The Frenchman’s departure follows a 3-1 defeat by Liverpool on Sunday, marking Palace’s fourth consecutive loss in the league and extending a run that has left them with only two wins from their opening ten matches.
The Eagles have conceded 24 goals in the league this season, the worst defensive record among Premier League teams. Their struggles extend to Europe as well, sitting 21st in the 36-team Europa League table with just one victory from four outings.
Alongside Sage, three members of his coaching staff, Jamal Alioui, Damien Della Santa, and Sandy Guichard, have also left the club, according to an official statement. Palace thanked Sage and his team for their efforts and said they would provide updates on the new manager appointment process in due course.
Thomas Frank, the former Brentford and Tottenham manager, is in advanced discussions to take over the role. Frank was sacked by Tottenham in February after eight months, leaving the club 16th in the Premier League following an eight-match winless streak. His tenure at Brentford had been more successful, but his recent spell at Spurs ended under pressure.
Sage’s time at Palace began in June when he signed a three-year contract, succeeding Oliver Glasner, who left after leading the Eagles to their first FA Cup victory and a Europa Conference League title. The French coach arrived with a strong record from Lens, where he guided the team to a second-place Ligue 1 finish and their first French Cup win in 120 years. Yet he struggled to replicate that form at Selhurst Park.
Palace’s poor run started with a 5-0 defeat by rivals Brighton on 11 October. Sage admitted feeling “shame” after that loss and acknowledged uncertainty over whether he would keep his job. Injuries and the absence of key forwards Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr, who have faced fitness and personal issues amid transfer speculation, complicated his plans.
The team’s form did not improve, with the squad hitting the woodwork and having a goal disallowed in their latest loss to Liverpool. Sage’s overall record stands at five wins from 16 games in all competitions. The club’s next Premier League match is away at Coventry on 21 November, following the international break.
Sage is the second Premier League manager to be dismissed this season, following Michael Carrick’s exit from Manchester United on Thursday. The Premier League campaign is still young, but Palace’s current position suggests a tough road ahead as they seek to halt their decline.
At this stage, the focus is on securing a new manager to steady the ship. The outcome of discussions with Thomas Frank will be closely watched by supporters eager for a turnaround in results.
According to BBC Sports.
