Crystal Palace has dismissed manager Pierre Sage after just five months in the role, leaving the club at the bottom of the Premier League standings. Former Brentford and Tottenham boss Thomas Frank is currently in advanced negotiations to succeed him at Selhurst Park.
Struggling Form and Defensive Woes
Sage’s departure follows a 3-1 defeat against Liverpool on Sunday, which marked the team’s fourth consecutive loss in the Premier League. The Eagles have secured only two victories in their first 10 league fixtures and hold the division’s worst defensive record after conceding 24 goals. Additionally, Palace sits 21th in the 36-team Europa League standings with a single win from four matches.
According to a statement from the club, coaching staff members Jamal Alioui, Damien Della Santa, and Sandy Guichard have also departed. The club expressed gratitude to Sage and his team for their efforts in South London and stated that an update regarding a new managerial appointment will follow in due course.
Sage becomes the second Premier League manager to lose his job this campaign, following Michael Carrick’s dismissal from Manchester United. The 47-year-old French coach had signed a three-year deal in June following Oliver Glasner’s departure, having previously guided Lens to second place in Ligue 1 and a historic French Cup victory.
However, Sage struggled to match the success achieved by Glasner, who now manages Nottingham Forest and previously delivered Palace an FA Cup title and a Europa Conference League trophy. Palace has not won a league match since October 11, starting their losing skid with a 5-0 defeat against rivals Brighton, after which Sage admitted he felt shame and remained uncertain about his future.
Internal sympathy existed following that heavy defeat, as injuries disrupted squad planning alongside the absences of forwards Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr due to fitness concerns and desires to leave the club. Three further losses followed, culminating in the recent defeat by Liverpool where Palace hit the crossbar and had a goal disallowed. Across all competitions, Sage managed five wins from 16 matches.
Targeting Thomas Frank
Palace considers Thomas Frank as the ideal candidate to steer the club away from the relegation zone. BBC Sport understands that discussions have entered the closing stages with optimism that an agreement will be finalized before players return from international duty early next week.
While the club also considered former Everton and Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche alongside Toulouse boss Jens Berthel Askou, Frank emerged as the clear favorite to succeed Sage. Sage’s inability to establish defensive stability ultimately contributed to his dismissal.
Frank has remained unemployed since leaving Tottenham in February after an eight-month tenure that ended with Spurs positioned 16th in the Premier League, five points above the drop zone. Fulham previously monitored Frank’s situation amid speculation regarding Alvaro Arbeloa’s position, but improved results at Craven Cottage allowed Palace to advance their pursuit.
Crystal Palace is scheduled to return to Premier League action with an away fixture against Coventry on November 21 following the international break.
