Pierre Sage, then director of the OL Academy, was appointed head coach of Olympique Lyonnais in November 2024, after a period of difficulties for the club. The decision of the management, notably of President John Textoor, comes as the team is relegated to the last of Ligue 1, with only one victory over sixteen days. This appointment is the result of a series of events and discussions that go back several months, following the failure of several other recruitment projects and a period of uncertainty about the future of the team. The arrival of Sage, although surprising for some, is seen as one of the best recent decisions for the club.

Pierre Sage recalled his first meeting with John Textoor, which took place at the Academy. The reception, although sudden, proved positive and allowed to establish a communication around the common passion for football. They discussed for an hour in Sage’s office, addressing various aspects of football and Academy activities. Textoor expressed appreciation for Sage’s vision and approach to the game. This meeting was crucial to the appointment of Sage, who was able to convince the President of the relevance of his experience and his ability to correct the situation of the team.

Under the leadership of Pierre Sage, OL saw a notable improvement from last place to a qualification in the Europa League. This success is the result of hard work and a coherent strategy, which has helped restore confidence in the team and mobilize players. However, his career as head of the club was short, ending on 28 January 2025 following a series of bad results and a elimination in the Coupe de France. Despite this difficult end, Pierre Sage’s impact on OL remains positive, and his appointment is considered a turning point for the club.