Dino Toppmöller is the new head coach of RC Lens. The 45-year-old football teacher signed a contract with the French cup winners until July 1, 2028, as reported by FAZ. He succeeds Pierre Sage, who has joined Premier League club Crystal Palace.
Toppmöller previously worked at Eintracht Frankfurt, where he took over in summer 2023. However, the Bundesliga club parted ways with him in mid-January after a disappointing first half of the season. In the 2024/25 season, Toppmöller had led the Hessians to third place and Champions League qualification.
Pierre Sage will replace Oliver Glasner at Crystal Palace. The Austrian had previously led the English side to win the Conference League. Glasner coached Eintracht Frankfurt from 2021 to 2023 and won the Europa League with the club.
For Toppmöller, Lens is his third coaching stint abroad after Luxembourg (F91 Dudelange) and Belgium (Royal Excelsior Virton). Saarland-born coach speaks fluent French. “He enjoys high esteem in Europe and combines tactical skill, experience in European competitions, and outstanding personal qualities,” said Benjamin Parrot of RC Lens.
Toppmöller is the first German coach in the history of Racing Lens. The club reached the Champions League last season. With his playing philosophy and ability to develop young players, he fits perfectly into the club’s project, Parrot added.
EuroPulse reported on June 15, 2026, about Lothar Matthäus’ criticism of Jürgen Klopp’s statements before the World Cup (Matthäus kritisiert Klopp-Aussagen vor WM-Auftakt).
Source: www.faz.net
