Last season’s Ligue 1 Manager of the Year, and Coupe de France winner, Sage has signed a three-year contract to lead the Eagles, pending confirmation of his visa.

The 47-year-old Frenchman arrives off the back of an extraordinary first season in charge of RC Lens, not only securing the club’s first-ever Coupe de France trophy – having reached the Final for the first time in 28 years – but also qualification for the UEFA Champions League for just the fourth time in their history.

Lens’ development under Sage saw them register a six-place and 18-point improvement in Ligue 1 in just a single season, leading the table for six matchweeks. His tenure at Lens concluded with a 67.5 win percentage in all competitions.

Sage also made an outstanding impact at Olympique Lyonnais, initially being appointed Interim Manager in November 2023 at a point the team were bottom of the Ligue 1 table. *Les Gones* went on to win 15 of their next 20 league matches under Sage, securing UEFA Europa League qualification and reaching another Coupe de France Final.

Also previously serving as assistant manager at Lyon-Duchère and Red Star, while fulfilling a variety of roles throughout French football, Sage’s career – spanning over two decades – has seen him develop extensive experience across numerous holistic levels and disciplines in the game.

**Chairman Steve Parish said:** “I am tremendously excited to welcome Pierre, who joins us off the back of a trophy-winning season at Lens as well as a fabulous second-place finish in Ligue 1.

“As we move into another European campaign off the back of our success in Leipzig, I know he will give everything to target more success for our fantastic Football Club.”

**Pierre Sage said:** “It’s amazing to be here at Crystal Palace. I am excited by the history of the club, and by recent seasons. Oliver Glasner achieved some amazing things, and now I have to do the same. That’s why we come here with a lot of ambition.

“The dynamic here is really positive, and we are in this mindset too. We won last year – and we want to continue in this way, in a new club, a new project, but with a lot of winning habits.

“We want to give our best every day for the team, for the club, for the people, and especially for the fans, because when you love a club in England, it’s for all your life.

“We want to give the fans what they want. We want to make the fans smile, to be proud of the team, and to be proud of the club – so we will give our best for you, and we are together.”

Further information on Pierre’s coaching staff will be confirmed in due course.

Crystal Palace Football Club are delighted to confirm the appointment of Pierre Sage as Manager.

Pierre Sage appointed Crystal Palace Manager

Get your Season Ticket here!

After a stunning run of form, where the team won 12 of the last 14 league games, Jo Potter’s side have returned to the WSL at the first time of asking.

Season Tickets are now on general sale, and you can secure your spot for the season from just £50!

Palace fans can now look forward to the visits of Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, and others to South London, as the Eagles take on the best of the best.

A 26/27 Women’s Season Ticket covers all 13 home Women’s Super League games, regardless of stadium – meaning any matches at Selhurst Park are also included.

*Supporters should note that Subway Women’s League Cup and FA Cup ties are not covered by 26/27 Season Tickets.*

#### **What does a 2026/27 Women’s Season Ticket include?**

- Ticket for every WSL home fixture
- Priority booking / reservations for every Palace Women fixture at Selhurst Park
- Priority windows for away tickets
- Loyalty Points credited with your purchase
- The option to spread payments via Direct Debit

#### **Ticket Prices**

Seated Season Tickets will cost **£125** and Standing Season Tickets will cost **£90**.

Tickets for Men’s Season Ticket Holders are priced at **£88**, with Junior Tickets priced at **£50**.

Season Tickets are now on general sale and will remain on-sale until the week of our first home game in the WSL.

#### **26/27 Palace Women’s Season Ticket prices:**

- **Adult (Seated):** £125 
- **Adult (Standing):** £90
- **Men’s Season Ticket Holders:** £88
- **U16s:** £50

**Check out the table below for more information.**


| **NEW (From 10:00 Fri 22nd May)**               | **Season Ticket Price** | **Price per Game** |
| ----------------------------------------------- | ----------------------- | ------------------ |
| Adult - Seated                                  | £125                    | £9.62              |
| Adult - Standing                                | £90                     | £6.92              |
| Junior (U16)                                    | £50                     | £3.85              |
| Concession (over 65 and 17-21) - Seated         | £90                     | £6.92              |
| Concession (over 65 and 17-21) - Standing       | £70                     | £5.38              |
| Men’s Season Ticket Holder (Seated or Standing) | £88                     | £6.77              |

Buy your Season Ticket here!

#### **How to buy your ticket**

You can get your 2026/27 Season Ticket by following the step-by-step guide below:

1. Log in to [the Ticketing section](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc?utm_source=website&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=WebsiteStory-StockportTickets-12.12.24) of the website.
2. Navigate to the [Season Tickets section](https://www.eticketing.co.uk/cpfc/Seasons/Seasons).
3. Click the **‘MORE INFO' button** in the **2026/27 Women's Season Ticket section.**
4. Select your seats for the season.
5. Click **‘ADD TO BASKET’** in the top-right of the screen and then follow the remaining on-screen instructions to checkout.

#### **Receiving Your Match Tickets**

Your digital ticket for each home fixture will arrive no later than **72 hours before kick-off**.

For matches played at Selhurst Park, Season Ticket holders must book a seat of their choice, free of charge, during the priority window. We’ll email you full instructions ahead of each game.

#### **Need Help?**

Our Box Office team is here to assist with new purchases, Direct Debit set-up, and accessibility requirements. 

Call [**0333 360 1861**] (Mon-Fri, 9:00am-5:30pm) or email **[boxoffice@cpfc.co.uk](mailto:boxoffice@cpfc.co.uk)**.

Back the Eagles in their return to the WSL – Season Tickets are now on general sale for Crystal Palace Women’s return to the top-flight.

2026/27 Palace Women's Season Tickets are now on General Sale!

Soak it up, savour it – having conquered the 2025/26 UEFA Conference League, Crystal Palace have won a European trophy!

CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE!

## Our Senegalese Sarr

> Ismaïla Sarr became the club’s third signing of the 2024/25 summer transfer window after joining on a five-year deal from Olympique de Marseille.

The 26-year-old attacker possesses plenty of experience of English football, having spent four years at Watford – recording 34 goals and 22 assists in 131 games – prior to joining Marseille, whom he helped reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League last season.

Sarr's career began in French football with Metz, before moving to Rennes and leading the club into Europe, as well as winning their first Coupe de France in almost half a century.

At international level, he has been a mainstay of the Senegal national side, earning 64 caps, scoring 13 goals and winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021.

His career has also been defined by his eye for the spectacular, having won Goal of the Season awards in both the Football League and the Europa League.

Sarr was ever-present in every Premier League matchday squad in his first season at the club, playing in all 38 games, while also featuring in a further nine cup games. He scored 11 goals across all competitions, with eight additional assists - including a stunning effort against rivals Brighton & Hove Albion and a brace against Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final.

2022/23, Watford (v West Bromwich Albion)

EFL Goal of the Season

Watford, 2020/21

Player of the Season

Players' Player of the Season

2018/19, Rennes (v Jablonec)

UEFA Europa League Goal of the Season

December 2024

Crystal Palace Player of the Month

Sarr

Instagram

Ismaila Sarr every goal and assist 25/26 season 

Top Goals from Crystal Palace vs Arsenal

Extended Highlights: Brentford 2-2 Crystal Palace | Palace TV+

The Full 90: Brentford v Crystal Palace | Palace TV+

Match Action: Brentford 2-2 Crystal Palace

Goal of the Season Contenders 25/26

The Full 90: Crystal Palace v Everton | Palace TV+

Match Action: Crystal Palace 2-2 Everton

Extended Highlights: Crystal Palace 2-2 Everton | Palace TV+

Match Action: Crystal Palace 2-1 Shakhtar Donetsk

Lacroix and Sarr on reaching a European Final

Match Action: Shakhtar Donetsk 1-3 Crystal Palace

Match Action: Fiorentina 2-1 Crystal Palace

Match Action: Crystal Palace 3-0 Fiorentina

Goal AND Player of the Month: Ismaïla Sarr

UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE WINNERS COLLECTION

### **The road less travelled**

Born in the Eastern French town of Lons-le-Saunier, Sage’s journey to the Premier League and pinnacle of competitive football is unorthodox by many modern managers’ standards.

Like most, the 47-year-old did enjoy a playing career, but it was largely with French amateur clubs CS Belley before – in his teens – he began to develop a holistic interest in other aspects of the game, including coaching.

Sage’s previous roles in backroom teams across different clubs and leagues in France include positions such as Under-19s assistant coach just 11 years ago. More recently, his CV includes spells in scouting, technical management and as a technical director in clubs across his homeland.

The Manager describes himself as being a ‘trainer and educator’ across an over two-decade long association with the French Football Federation – a reflection on his personality as a true student of the game, from the ground up.

### **Early managerial steps**

Sage’s natural intelligence, sharp insight and varied education have allowed him to shape an impressive holistic perspective on how to attain success in modern football – one which has led him to the elite level of the Premier League.

Sage’s first stint as a senior football Manager came with Chambery in 2013, before he later joined Lyon-La Duchère in 2018 as Assistant Manager.

His variety of experience next led Sage to the role of Youth Coach at Olympique Lyonnais in 2019, before a spell as Assistant Manager to Habib Beye at Red Star FC in Paris and – subsequently – another spell at Lyon as Academy Manager.

It was there he would truly make his mark.

### **Instant impact**

When Sage’s first role in top-level management arrived, he seized the opportunity in some style.

Promoted to Interim Manager at Lyon in November 2023 when Fabio Grosso was dismissed, Sage took charge of a team rooted to the bottom of the Ligue 1 table, on just seven points and with one win to their name at that point.

But Sage knew his players’ ability – and how to unlock it. Under his leadership, Lyon recorded 15 victories in their next 20 league matches, securing qualification for the UEFA Europa League and reaching the 2023/24 Coupe de France Final.

Following one of the most remarkable second-half campaigns in the illustrious history of the seven-time French champions, Sage was appointed Head Coach on a permanent basis, where he remained until January 2025.

He departed with a 1.85 points-per-game tally in Ligue 1 – a Manager used to winning matches.

### **A Lens wait for glory over**

If that spell weren’t remarkable enough, his first and only season in charge at RC Lens – last season – was truly spectacular.

With former Palace striker Odsonne Edouard leading the line (and scoring 14 times in 34 appearances), alongside former Newcastle forwards Allan Saint-Maximin and Florian Thauvin, Sage’s Lens were sharp at both ends of the pitch, scoring the second-most (66), and conceding the second-least (35), number of goals in Ligue 1.

With an 18-point improvement, Sage guided the club to a second-place finish in Ligue 1, climbing six places from the previous season and finishing behind only the European champions, Paris Saint-Germain. The achievement secured qualification for the following season’s UEFA Champions League.

In recognition of his outstanding work, Pierre was named Ligue 1 Manager of the Year by the UNFP, voted for by his professional peers.

Pierre also led RC Lens to their first Coupe de France Final appearance in over two decades, culminating in a 3-1 victory over OGC Nice to secure the trophy for the first time in the club’s history.

### **Style of play**

In the words of the man himself, in an interview undertaken last year, Sage noted: “There are two types of teams: one with the ball, and the other chasing it.”

“During the game, we have some rotations and asymmetric combinations to sometimes play in 4-3-3, but also in 3-4-3 or a 3-2-5,” [the Frenchman told The Athletic in April 2025](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6283217/2025/04/17/pierre-sage-interview-lyon-cherki-textor/). “It depends on what kind of players I have, the opponent and what we want to do in the game.

“My opinion is not to have something strong, it’s to have something very liquid, with the idea to have a lot of adaptations between the games and in the same game, because sometimes, when the opponents change something, if you are not able to adapt, to solve the problems, you will not be competitive.”

Sage’s Lens also made their home ground a fortress, with 14 wins from their 17 Ligue 1 matches at Stade Bollaert-Delelis last season.

Sage – meet Selhurst Park. We have a feeling you’ll get along well…

An astute tactician, an inspiring leader – and a man who makes a big impact wherever he goes, despite having less than 100 professional matches on his managerial CV – let’s take a look back at the varied footballing education of Crystal Palace’s new Manager, Pierre Sage…

Pierre Sage: the new Crystal Palace Manager's unique career story

“We want to see them with a smile, to be proud of the team, and to be proud of the club,” was the Frenchman’s message to his new fans, speaking to Palace TV.

“You can know that we will give our best for you – and we are together.

“From my first steps in the stadium, I understand the atmosphere. We understand that good things happen here, historical things happen.

“That's why we have to continue in this way: because it's special to play here, and we want to be special.”

**Watch the full interview below!**

We want to give our best every day for the team, for the club, for people and especially for the fans

Sage’s arrival in England marks the next chapter in an intriguing career for the 47-year-old, who possesses over two decades’ experience in a variety of technical roles throughout the game – but more recently, breakout success at Olympique Lyonnais and RC Lens in Ligue 1.

At the former, Sage took over a Lyon side who sat bottom of the table with just seven points, inspiring them to 15 wins in their next 20 games – and both UEFA Europa League qualification and the Coupe de France Final.

In just a single season at Lens, Sage’s impact was arguably even more impressive, as he recorded both a 2nd-place finish – leading Paris Saint-Germain for a decent stretch of the 2025/26 season – and the club’s first-ever Coupe de France trophy.

For those achievements, Sage was named Ligue 1 Manager of the Year – and he is now excited to test his skills in the Premier League.

“It’s amazing – for me, it’s a dream to be in England, especially in the Premier League,” he said. “This [opportunity] is a really good surprise, and a big challenge.

“For me, first of all, football came from this country and the Premier League is the best league in the world. To be here is really special, because you have to put your level at its highest position.

“We want to give our best every day for the team, for the club, for people and especially for the fans because when you love a club in England, it's for all of your life. 

"It's your family sometimes, and you need to keep that. We want to give them what they want.”

With 13 Eagles currently on international duty at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals, Sage outlined his approach to introducing himself to his new players, noting: “We have to adapt the contents and the rhythm to players who came from the World Cup. But they will not all come back on the same days, so we have to adapt for every one of them.

“If they play, if they don't play too, we have to take that into consideration. But the most important thing is to be ready for the league and to be competitive as soon as we can.”

Palace are set to enjoy a second successive season in European competition in 2026/27, off the back of their success in the UEFA Conference League, and Sage added: “It’s a positive pressure because when you win, you want to win more.

“In Europe, I played in the Europa League two years ago and it was really exciting. You have good games with a lot of intensity. If you give your best, like you [Palace] did last year, you are able to do things that other people can't think about.

“With a good surprise, you can make a big party at the end of the season!”

On Palace specifically, Sage added: “[I am excited by] the history of the club, and by recent seasons. Oliver Glasner achieved some amazing things, and now I have to do the same. That’s why we come here with a lot of ambition.

“The dynamic here is really positive, and we are in this mindset too. We won last year –and we want to continue in this way, in a new club, a new project, but with a lot of winning habits.

“For me, the squad has to be similar to the people who will come to the stadium to see us play – we have to be in line with what they want to see.

“To be proud to be from South London, we have to give a good solution to the team to play as the league wants, as the league needs, but also how the fans want to see their team. 

"We will prepare in a good way to give them what they are looking for.”

Pierre Sage hopes to lead a Crystal Palace team that continues to make supporters proud, he revealed in his first interview as Eagles’ Manager.

Announcement

Announcement

Pierre Sage appointed Crystal Palace Manager

Pierre Sage: the new Crystal Palace Manager's unique career story

First Interview: Pierre Sage reveals what he wants from Palace fans

UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE WINNERS COLLECTION

7Ismaïla
Sarr

Announcement

Announcement

Pierre Sage appointed Crystal Palace Manager

Pierre Sage: the new Crystal Palace Manager's unique career story

First Interview: Pierre Sage reveals what he wants from Palace fans

UEFA CONFERENCE LEAGUE WINNERS COLLECTION

7IsmaïlaSarr

7Ismaïla
Sarr