A source close with the agreement claims that Paulo Fonseca will be named the new head coach of Lyon, a French club.
The move follows Pierre Sage’s unexpected firing, who was first given praise for guiding the team out of a crisis the previous season and putting them in contention for a Champions League berth this year.
After a 1-1 tie with Nantes in league 1, Sage was fired, a decision that many in the football community found puzzling. Lyon changed their fortunes under Sage’s leadership, moving up from the bottom of the table to sixth place the previous season. They are now only four points from of qualifying for the Champions League this year.
According to Lyon, the decision to split from Sage was a “sporting choice.” John Textor, an American businessman who traveled to Lyon this week, owns the club. A prominent figure in the multi-club ownership concept, Textor also owns teams in Brazil (Botafogo) and Belgium (RWD Molenbeek).
With a wealth of coaching expertise, Fonseca had been unemployed since being fired from AC Milan on December 30. Since Textor had tried to recruit him in the past and had kept in touch with him frequently over the years, the club saw this appointment as a calculated move.