Pierre Sage and Thiago Motta eyed to replace Fonseca if OL loses its manager

Olympique Lyonnais could lose Paulo Fonseca as early as this winter. According to L’Équipe, Sporting Portugal has made the Portuguese coach its priority to replace Rui Borges, and president Frederico Varandas would be prepared to offer him a salary aligned with what he currently earns at Lyon.

Fonseca earns between 350,000 and 400,000 euros per month, a salary that is also complicating discussions around a contract extension at Lyon, where his deal expires next June. In this context, a departure would not necessarily be a bad move for the Rhône club’s management from a financial standpoint. Sportingly, nothing forces their hand: OL sits fifth in Ligue 1, and Fonseca has just strung together two consecutive league victories.

For Sporting, the situation is more urgent. The Lisbon club is third in the Portuguese championship, nine points behind leaders Porto, and wants to change direction despite Borges’ recent results.

If Fonseca were to leave, two names are already circulating within OL’s circles. Thiago Motta is said to have been proposed to Lyon’s management, again according to L’Équipe. But it is the other option that is capturing the attention of some supporters: Pierre Sage, the former in-house manager.

Currently struggling at Crystal Palace, Sage retains intact goodwill at Lyon. Between November 2023 and January 2025, he had turned around a club in crisis and secured European qualification, before being sacked in favour of Fonseca. A return to Groupama Stadium would represent an unexpected scenario, but the option is considered credible internally if the Portuguese manager’s departure is confirmed.