The 47-year-old’s stock has risen rapidly following his impressive work in Ligue 1. Before his stint at Lens, Sage’s senior managerial experience was limited to a year-long spell with Lyon between 2024 and 2025. However, it was his move to Lens in the summer of 2025 that truly caught the attention of Premier League scouts.
During his time at Lens, Sage guided the club to a stunning second-place finish in Ligue 1, finishing just six points behind back-to-back European champions Paris Saint-Germain. Even more impressively, he led the French side to their first-ever Coupe de France title, defeating Nice in the final to etch his name into the club’s history books before making the move to England.
