Pierre Sage led Lyon from the bottom of Ligue 1 to European qualification and the French Cup final. (AFP pic)LONDON: Pierre Sage has admitted in an interview with AFP that the opportunity to manage in the Premier League was one he could simply not refuse as he prepares to return to his native France with Crystal Palace this week.
Palace are in Europa League action on Thursday at Lyon, a special fixture for Sage who got his coaching break there in late 2023 and enjoyed a whirlwind 14 months in charge.
Sage, 47, has now joined a small band of Frenchmen to have managed in the Premier League, following most notably in the footsteps of legendary former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and the late Gerard Houllier, who was in charge at Liverpool.
