Pierre Sage’s move from Lens to Crystal Palace has left his former club facing another change in the dugout, with successor Dino Toppmöller departing after only six games in charge.
Sage left Lens after guiding them to their first Coupe de France triumph and a second-place finish in Ligue 1 last season. Toppmöller was then handed the difficult task of building on that campaign during a summer in which Lens also lost several important players.
The German made an encouraging start. Lens defeated Paris Saint-Germain in the Trophée des Champions, opened their Ligue 1 campaign with a 5-2 victory over Auxerre and won away to Slavia Prague in their first Champions League match. Results subsequently dipped, although the club’s stated expectations were still being met.
Lens CEO Benjamin Parrot said the departure followed divisions within the coaching staff. Toppmöller had arrived with two assistants, including Nelson Morgado, and reportedly refused to accept the club’s attempt to dismiss Morgado. Toppmöller then left by mutual consent, becoming Lens’ shortest-serving manager since the Second World War.
Yannick Cahuzac has taken temporary charge. The former Lens player had returned to the club as Toppmöller’s assistant after working at Lorient, having previously served as an assistant under Franck Haise. His first match ended in a 2-1 defeat by Monaco, leaving Lens to manage a turbulent period shortly after Sage’s successful spell before his move to Crystal Palace.
