- Yannick Cahuzac has been relieved of his duties by RC Lens after losing six of his nine matches in charge
- His damaging spell included a derby defeat to Lille, a 9-1 UEFA Champions League loss to Como and a defeat to Marseille before the international break
- RC Lens are pushing to reappoint Pierre Sage, who left for Crystal Palace over the summer and is now on the verge of being sacked by the Premier League club
Cahuzac’s Short Spell Ends at Lens
RC Lens have moved on from Yannick Cahuzac after a difficult period in charge of Les Sang et Or. The Corsican has been relieved of his duties after just nine games.
Cahuzac had been promoted from assistant to replace Dino Toppmoller, having already been part of Toppmoller’s backroom staff. His elevation came after divisions emerged, while the decision was questioned because of his friendship with sporting director Jean-Louis Leca.
The former assistant to Olivier Pantaloni struggled to build momentum. He won just three of his six games in Ligue 1 and, across all competitions, lost six of his nine matches as Lens manager.
🚨🚨💣 YANNICK CAHUZAC 🇫🇷 EST LIMOGÉ DE SON POSTE D’ENTRAÎNEUR AU RC LENS !!!!! 😱❌
LENS VA CONNAÎTRE UN TROISIÈME ENTRAÎNEUR CETTE SAISON.
(@lequipe) https://t.co/hblQsrDEJI
— Actu Ligue 1 (@ActuL1_) November 10, 2026
Results That Increased the Pressure
The decisive run came in the three-game spell before the international break. Lens suffered a derby defeat to Lille, then lost 9-1 to Como in the UEFA Champions League – the joint-heaviest defeat in the competition’s history – before falling to Marseille.
Sage Emerges as the Preferred Target
Lens have drawn up a three-man shortlist to replace Cahuzac, with L’Équipe citing Pierre Sage as one of the three candidates. Lens are pushing to repatriate the Frenchman just months after his exit, and he is the preferred candidate of the three identified.
Sage left Lens over the summer to join Crystal Palace. His departure followed a campaign in which he led the French club to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 and secured the Coupe de France for the first time in their history.
The move to Crystal Palace came after Sage had previously revealed a dream of managing in the Premier League. Palace, who knew in advance of Oliver Glasner’s impending departure, offered him that opportunity.
Crystal Palace Situation Could Shape Lens’ Next Move
Sage’s time at Crystal Palace has not gone to plan. He is on the verge of being sacked by the Premier League club, with that development potentially being made official imminently. Similar news is expected at Lens in the coming hours after Cahuzac’s dismissal.
As Lens search for another change in direction, the possibility of Sage returning has become central to the story. The Frenchman is now the leading name among the candidates under consideration, while Palace’s decision over his future could have a direct impact on Lens’ attempt to bring him back.
