Dino Toppmoller Replaces Sage As Lens Boss Ahead Of 2026-27 Champions League Bid

Lens have named former Eintracht Frankfurt head coach Dino Toppmoller on a two-year deal, moving quickly after Pierre Sage’s exit to Crystal Palace. Toppmoller is expected to guide Lens through a Champions League return in the 2026-27 season.

Sage was unveiled as Palace’s new head coach on Monday, after Oliver Glasner chose to step aside at the end of a Conference League-winning campaign. Lens then finalised Toppmoller’s arrival, confirming a rapid change on the touchline for the 2026-27 campaign.

Sage’s single season leading Lens in 2025-26 brought a serious Ligue 1 challenge, with the team finishing second behind Paris Saint-Germain. That campaign also delivered Lens’ first Coupe de France title, underlining why Sage is regarded as one of their most successful coaches.

Toppmoller already has Champions League experience, having taken Eintracht into UEFA’s main competition last season. Eintracht claimed sixth place in the Bundesliga in 2023-24 and third in 2024-25 under Toppmoller, before dismissing the coach midway through the 2025-26 season.

Eintracht’s 2025-26 European results were poor, with six defeats in eight league-phase matches, plus one win and one draw. The club eventually finished eighth domestically under Albert Riera, who left after Eintracht missed out on European qualification, a background that shapes expectations for Toppmoller at Lens.