Lens have confirmed the appointment of former Eintracht Frankfurt head coach Dino Toppmoller, after Pierre Sage departed for Crystal Palace.
Sage was announced as Palace’s new head coach on Monday, following Oliver Glasner’s decision to step down at the end of their Conference League-winning campaign.
Sage’s lone season in charge of Lens in 2025-26 saw them threaten an unlikely Ligue 1 title triumph, ultimately finishing as runners-up to Paris Saint-Germain, in addition to winning their first Coupe de France crown.
They have moved swiftly to replace one of the most successful coaches in their history, with Toppmoller arriving on a two-year contract.
Connexion établie : Nouveau chapitre lancé #Toppmöller2028 pic.twitter.com/4tIjNAzjm1
— Racing Club de Lens (@RCLens) June 16, 2026
Toppmoller will be tasked with overseeing Lens’ return to the Champions League in 2026-27, having coached Eintracht in the competition last season.
Eintracht finished sixth in the Bundesliga under Toppmoller in 2023-24 and third in 2024-25, but he was sacked midway through 2025-26.
They lost six of their eight league-phase games in UEFA’s premier club competition (W1 D1) and ultimately finished eighth in the Bundesliga under Albert Riera, who then departed following their failure to qualify for Europe.Â
