Lyon is anticipated to welcome Paulo Fonseca as its new head coach, according to a source familiar with the situation.
This individual chose to remain anonymous since the official announcement has yet to be made public.
Fonseca will take over the position from Pierre Sage, who was dismissed from his role despite successfully guiding the French league team through a difficult phase last season and putting them in contention for a Champions League qualification in the ongoing campaign.
The decision to part ways with Sage followed a recent 1-1 draw against Nantes in Ligue 1 and has left many football enthusiasts surprised.
Sage quickly gained popularity among fans after transforming Lyon’s fortunes, leading them from the bottom of the league table to a commendable sixth place in the previous season.
Currently, after 19 games this season, Lyon finds itself in sixth position—just four points shy of a Champions League spot—while also having a promising chance to advance in the Europa League knockout stages.
Despite this, Lyon claimed that the move to dismiss Sage was based on “sporting choice,” citing his average points per game this season and difficulties against major competitors.
The club’s ownership under American entrepreneur John Textor was highlighted, as he visited the facilities this week and has had ongoing discussions with Fonseca in prior years, including previous attempts to hire him.
The 51-year-old Portuguese coach was let go by AC Milan on December 30 and has not been in charge of any team since.
During his tenure at AC Milan, Fonseca achieved only 12 victories in 24 matches across all tournaments.
However, during his time at Lille, he was more successful, crafting one of the most potent and efficient attacking units in France while working with a limited budget.
Lyon, which invested 220 million euros (approximately $229 million) in new players during Sage’s leadership, holds hopes that Fonseca can enhance the defensive organization of the team, making them more competitive among the top four teams in Ligue 1.
The club aims for consistent Champions League appearances and to challenge the dominance of Paris Saint-Germain.
Additionally, Lyon faces off-field challenges this season, as financial troubles are placing them at risk of relegation to a lower division.
Nevertheless, Textor’s Eagle Football company has expressed optimism about convincing the French league’s regulatory authority regarding the club’s financial viability, recently announcing an influx of 83 million euros (roughly $87 million).
