Fonseca set to join Sporting Portugal, Carlos Vicens favourite to replace him at Lyon

Paulo Fonseca is set to leave Olympique Lyonnais to sign with Sporting Portugal, his club of the heart. His last appearance on the Lyon bench was reportedly the victory against Angers (2-0), concluded by an emotional embrace with captain Corentin Tolisso.

The departure comes at a paradoxical moment: Lyon occupies third place in Ligue 1 after nine matchdays, just three points behind Paris Saint-Germain. Yet the convergence of interests seems difficult to contest. Columnist Daniel Riolo sums up the situation bluntly: “There was a financial opportunity since the position is opening up in Portugal, at Sporting.” Beyond the manager’s sentimental choice, the move considerably eases the finances of the Rhône club. Fonseca was earning €400,000 per month; his successor will likely earn between €100,000 and €150,000 per month, creating a margin that Riolo estimates at “two or three Ligue 1 player salaries”.

This instability does not seem to destabilise a dressing room accustomed to turbulence. “Lyon’s players are extra-lucid about the situation, they understand everything. They have been living in this situation for more than a year, notably with the Ligue 2 story,” Riolo observes.

The urgency of finding a successor is real: Lyon faces Real Sociedad in the Europa League, then travels to Brest in the league. The path to Thiago Motta reportedly did not lead to concrete contact. It is ultimately Carlos Vicens who appears to be the favourite. A former assistant to Pep Guardiola, who later worked at Braga, the Spanish manager is currently a free agent.