- RC Lens have reached a verbal agreement to re-hire Pierre Sage
- Sage’s departure from Crystal Palace was confirmed on Thursday afternoon after 16 games, including 10 in the Premier League
- Rudi Garcia, Didier Digard and Thiago Motta were also linked with the RC Lens vacancy as the club searched for stability
Lens Close In On A Familiar Figure
RC Lens appear to be moving back towards Pierre Sage, with Foot Mercato reporting that a verbal agreement has been reached for the Frenchman to return to the club. Sage had been identified as the priority option to succeed Yannick Cahuzac, whose departure came earlier this week, although that exit had not yet been officialised in the reports.
Sage became available after his exit from Crystal Palace was confirmed earlier today. He had joined the Premier League side from Lens over the summer, following a successful spell in which he led Lens to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 and delivered the club’s first-ever Coupe de France trophy.
🚨🚨💣 ACCORD VERBAL ENTRE PIERRE SAGE 🇫🇷 ET LE RC LENS !!!! 🤝❤️💛
Les dirigeants lensois ont fixé un ultimatum très clair : ils veulent être fixés sur l’issue de ce dossier sous 72h.
🗞️ @Santi_J_FM https://t.co/Ke5gvHfQ8b
— Actu Foot (@ActuFoot_) November 12, 2026
Short Spell At Crystal Palace
His time in south London proved brief. Sage left Crystal Palace after just 16 games in charge, 10 of which were in the Premier League. Currently, Palace are last in the standings.
The development immediately placed the former Lyon manager back on the market, strengthening the possibility of a return to Lens, who had been assessing candidates not currently in employment in order to avoid paying compensation.
A Club Searching For Stability
Lens have endured a turbulent period since Sage’s initial departure. Dino Toppmoller lasted only six games in the role, while his successor, Yannick Cahuzac, lasted just nine. The Ligue 1 club are therefore looking for managerial stability after a rapid succession of changes.
Before the verbal agreement with Sage was reported, Les Sang et Or had been drawing up a shortlist for the vacancy. Didier Digard, formerly of Le Havre AC, and former Juventus manager Thiago Motta featured among the names under consideration.
Garcia Also Linked With The Vacancy
Another candidate emerged through Mohamed Toubache-Ter, who reported that Rudi Garcia was also in the frame. Garcia is currently out of work, having left the Belgium National Team upon the conclusion of last summer’s FIFA World Cup.
