Crystal Palace have sacked Pierre Sage. The Frenchman lasted five months and 16 matches, and leaves with Palace bottom of the Premier League. Thomas Frank, formerly of Brentford and Tottenham, is in advanced talks to take over.
Four straight defeats and 24 goals against
Sunday's 3-1 loss to Liverpool at Selhurst Park was the fourth league defeat in a row. Palace have won two of their first 10 league games and conceded 24 goals, the worst defensive record in the division. They have not won in the league since 11 October. Europe has offered no relief either: one win from four leaves them 21st in the 36-team Europa League table.
The club's statement was short. It thanked Sage and his staff for their efforts and said an update on the search for a new manager would come in due course. Three of his coaches, Jamal Alioui, Damien Della Santa and Sandy Guichard, have gone with him.
He is the second Premier League manager dismissed this season and the second today. Manchester United sacked Michael Carrick earlier in the day.
Why it went so quickly
Sage, 47, signed a three-year contract in June. He came with a strong CV: second place in Ligue 1 with Lens and the first French Cup in that club's 120-year history. The trouble was who he was following. Oliver Glasner won Palace their first FA Cup and then the Conference League before leaving at the end of last season, and he is now managing Nottingham Forest. Anyone would have looked ordinary next to that.
The losing run started with a 5-0 hammering by Brighton, which is about the worst way a Palace manager can start one. Sage said afterwards that he felt "shame" and admitted he had no idea whether he would be given time. He got a bit. BBC Sport's Sami Mokbel reports there was some sympathy for him behind the scenes after that game, because injuries had wrecked his plans and because two of his best forwards were barely available. Jean-Philippe Mateta and Ismaila Sarr have both missed matches through a mix of fitness problems and personal issues tied to wanting to leave the club.
Three more defeats used the sympathy up. Palace hit the bar and had a goal ruled out against Liverpool, so there was a case for bad luck on the day. Five wins from 16 in all competitions is not a case for anything.
Frank's second chance in London
The man likely to replace him has his own recent sacking to get over. Tottenham dismissed Frank in February after just under eight months, with Spurs 16th and five points above the relegation zone following eight league games without a win.
Whoever gets the job has a little time. The international break means Palace do not play in the league again until 21 November, away at Coventry. It is the sort of fixture a bottom-of-the-table side has to take something from.
Key facts: Pierre Sage, 47, was appointed on a three-year contract in June 2026 and sacked on 12 November after 16 games (five wins). Crystal Palace are bottom of the Premier League with two wins from 10 and 24 goals conceded. Thomas Frank is in advanced talks. Next league match: Coventry v Crystal Palace, 21 November.
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