- Dino Toppmöller is set to leave RC Lens after just six matches in charge, including four in Ligue 1
- Lens drew 2-2 against newly promoted Le Mans FC over the weekend and currently sit 10th in Ligue 1 with one win, one draw and two losses
- Yannick Cahuzac is set to take charge when Lens face AS Monaco on Friday, according to L’Équipe
A sudden change after six matches
RC Lens are preparing to dismiss Dino Toppmöller barely three months after appointing him as manager. The German coach arrived in the summer as the replacement for Pierre Sage, who left for Crystal Palace after leading Lens to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 and the club’s maiden Coupe de France trophy.
Toppmöller, the former Eintracht Frankfurt manager, has overseen only six matches in total this season, with just four of those coming in Ligue 1. Despite that short spell, reports indicate that he will not be on the bench when Les Sang et Or face AS Monaco on Friday.
🚨🇩🇪 𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆 | Lens wanted to sack Dino Toppmöllers' assistant Nelson Morgado. Toppmöller stood LOYAL to his staff member and did not accept the decision to sack him! 🙅♂️
This is why Lens sacked Dino Toppmöller, reports @SkySportDE. 😳 pic.twitter.com/Fv96h6Dqzt
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) September 15, 2026
Mixed results in France, but success elsewhere
Lens’ domestic form has been a concern. They are 10th in Ligue 1 after one win, one draw and two losses from their opening four league fixtures, and their 2-2 draw against newly promoted Le Mans FC over the weekend added further pressure.
However, Toppmöller’s brief spell has not been without significant achievements. He guided Lens to victory in the Trophée des Champions and also oversaw a Champions League win away at Slavia Prague. Those results have made the timing of the reported dismissal particularly striking, with the club having taken decisive action despite early success outside Ligue 1.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total matches in charge | 6 |
| Ligue 1 matches | 4 |
| Ligue 1 record | One win, one draw and two losses |
| Current Ligue 1 position | 10th |
| Recent league result | 2-2 draw against newly promoted Le Mans FC over the weekend |
| Other notable results | Trophée des Champions victory and a Champions League win away at Slavia Prague |
Reports point to internal tensions rather than results alone
Although Lens’ Ligue 1 performances and results have not been perfect, sporting performance was reportedly not the primary reason behind the move. According to Sky Sport Germany, the situation instead centred on Toppmöller’s loyalty to his assistant, Nelson Morgado, who was himself on the verge of being dismissed by the club’s management.
Morgado was reportedly viewed internally as a disruptive figure. He is said to have drawn criticism for the demanding standards he set for the French coaching staff, particularly around commitment, passion and energy.
Toppmöller is reported to have opposed the club hierarchy’s decision regarding Morgado and offered his colleague unwavering support. That stance is said to have contributed directly to his own reported dismissal, despite the German coach being held in high regard by his superiors.
Cahuzac set to step in
L’Équipe reports that assistant coach Yannick Cahuzac is expected to take the reins for the match against AS Monaco on Friday. The former FC Lorient assistant had already been regarded as a possible long-term No.1 at Lens, and the current situation may accelerate those plans.
The abrupt nature of the expected managerial change has raised questions, particularly as Toppmöller’s tenure included both a Trophée des Champions triumph and a Champions League victory. From the outside, few would have anticipated the situation escalating to this point so early in the season.
