Crystal Palace sack Pierre Sage as Thomas Frank leads race South London 2026

Key Points

• Crystal Palace have dismissed manager Pierre Sage after 16 matches in charge.
• Assistant coaches Jamal Alioui, Damien Della Santa, and Sandy Guichard have also departed Selhurst Park.
• Palace sit bottom of the Premier League table with seven points from 10 matches, having conceded a league-high 24 goals.
• Former Brentford and Tottenham Hotspur manager Thomas Frank has emerged as the preferred candidate to take over.
• The decision follows a 3-1 home defeat to Liverpool and comes ahead of the international break.

Crystal Palace (South London News) November 12, 2026 – Crystal Palace have confirmed the dismissal of manager Pierre Sage following just 16 matches in charge, with former Tottenham Hotspur and Brentford boss Thomas Frank emerging as the leading candidate to replace him at Selhurst Park.

Why did Crystal Palace decide to dismiss Pierre Sage?

The 47-year-old Frenchman leaves the club after a difficult start to the Premier League season that has left Palace at the bottom of the standings with seven points from their opening 10 fixtures. Appointed during the summer to succeed Oliver Glasner, Sage managed only two league victories during his tenure.

Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat against Liverpool proved to be his final match in the dugout. Across all competitions, Palace won only once in their last eight matches under Sage. Defensive instability was a central factor in the club’s poor form, with the team conceding a league-high 24 goals in 10 league outings. This run included a 5-0 loss to rivals Brighton & Hove Albion in October, a fixture in which Palace conceded three goals within the opening 10 minutes.

Who else has left Selhurst Park following the managerial change?

Crystal Palace formally announced Sage’s departure on Thursday. Alongside the head coach, assistant managers Jamal Alioui, Damien Della Santa, and Sandy Guichard have also left their positions at the club.

In an official statement, the club confirmed the departures and noted that further information regarding the appointment of a new manager would be communicated in due course. The club’s hierarchy ultimately determined that making a change ahead of the international break was necessary to address the team’s league position.

Who is the favourite to become the next Crystal Palace manager?

As reported by The Athletic, Thomas Frank has emerged as Crystal Palace’s preferred candidate to succeed Pierre Sage. Senior officials at Selhurst Park have been impressed by the Danish coach’s extensive experience in the Premier League and his previous successful tenure at Brentford.

While Crystal Palace have yet to announce any formal agreement with Frank, the club’s search for a permanent replacement is expected to accelerate immediately following Thursday’s confirmation of Sage’s exit.

Background of the managerial transition at Crystal Palace

Pierre Sage arrived in South London during the summer with a strong reputation in European football, having guided Lens to a second-place finish in Ligue 1 and secured the Coupe de France title during the previous campaign. However, stepping into the role vacated by Oliver Glasner presented significant challenges. Glasner had overseen one of the most successful periods in Crystal Palace’s history, winning the FA Cup in 2025 before adding the Europa Conference League trophy the following season.

Furthermore, Sage inherited a squad that underwent substantial personnel changes during the summer transfer window. The departures of key defenders Maxence Lacroix and Daniel Munoz disrupted the backline. Although the club recruited 11 new players to reinforce the squad, defensive organisation deteriorated rapidly, and injuries to several key attacking players further complicated Sage’s efforts to establish consistency.

Prediction: How this development could affect Crystal Palace supporters and the squad

For Crystal Palace supporters and the playing squad, the dismissal of Pierre Sage signals an immediate reset aimed at securing Premier League survival. If the club finalises an appointment for Thomas Frank during the international break, the new manager will have a brief window to work with non-international players on the training ground to address the defensive vulnerabilities that have led to 24 goals conceded in 10 games. For the 11 summer signings and existing squad members, a managerial change offers a clean slate to compete for starting places, while supporters will look for pragmatic tactical adjustments to lift the team off the bottom of the table before the busy winter fixture schedule begins.