Pierre Sage would have been a popular appointment at Olympique Lyonnais. The Frenchman, a boyhood fan of the club, has previously said that he has unfinished business at the club, having left in early 2025 to be replaced by Paulo Fonseca.

Fonseca left OL last week in order to join his boyhood club, Sporting CP. Whilst Lyon did not want to lose the Portuguese manager, they didn’t want to stand in his way.

The vacancy opened up the possiblity of Sage returning to the club, but it was instead Carlos Vicens, out of work since leaving SC Braga in October, who was appointed. Speaking at his unveiling, sporting director Matthieu Louis-Jean explained why the club did not move to bring back Sage.

Sage a priority target for Lens’ president

“Pierre is under contract at Crystal Palace, so that wasn’t an option. We worked on a list of manages with specific characteristics and Carlos matched perfectly,” he said on Tuesday.

Of course, Sage may not be under contract at Crystal Palace for too much longer. He is expected to be relieved of his duties. A return to RC Lens, who he left to move to Selhurst Park over the summer, has been touted. In any case, he is the priority target for owner and president Joseph Oughourlian, L’Équipe understands.