RC Lens dismissed head coach Yannick Cahuzac following a 9-1 Champions League defeat against Como and a 2-1 Ligue 1 loss to Marseille, sport.cz reported.
The 41-year-old manager, who had only been in the role for two months, oversaw nine matches across all competitions, recording three wins and six defeats before losing his position. This marks the second time this season the club has fired a head coach, leaving the team to search for its third manager in less than three months—a frequency not seen at the club since the 1938-39 season.
The club sits 11th in the French top flight after reaching the title race two seasons prior, according to Eurofotbal. The current crisis stands in sharp contrast to the 2025-26 campaign, when the team, which had been in the second division five years earlier, challenged Paris Saint-Germain for the title until the final stages.
Despite finishing six points behind the Parisian giants, the club secured Champions League qualification, a feat that felt historic for the side from northern France.
Supporters displayed a banner at Stade Bollaert-Delelis reading “YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO 120 YEARS OF HISTORY” during the fixture against Marseille, Livesport reported. Following the final whistle, players attempted to thank the crowd, only to be met with a second banner reading “Shame on you.”
Club president Joseph Oughourlian left a message in the dressing room following the 1-9 Como defeat—the worst home loss in the history of the competition—stating “no more,” as reported by Livesport.
Sporting director Jean-Louis Leca also faces pressure from the fanbase. Amidst the turmoil, Cahuzac admitted, “We are sick.” Summer signings, including Jean-Clair Todibo and Thorgan Hazard, have failed to meet expectations, leaving Florian Thauvin as one of the few bright spots.
Cahuzac arrived in September to replace Dino Toppmöller, who departed after a disagreement regarding the dismissal of his assistant coach, Eurofotbal reported. Toppmöller had overseen a 3-2 victory over Slavia Prague in the Champions League group stage but stepped down by mutual agreement after defending his staff. Lens has not used three head coaches within a single campaign since the 1938-39 season, according to Eurofotbal records.
Club officials reportedly consider former manager Pierre Sage as a candidate to take over the squad, Eurofotbal reported. Sage currently manages Crystal Palace, which sits bottom of the Premier League table with seven points after ten fixtures.
After leading Lens to success last season, the 47-year-old French strategist moved to England following the departure of Oliver Glasner. His tenure at Palace has struggled, with the Eagles currently planning a managerial change after four consecutive defeats.
Earlier coverage: RC Lens Sacks Yannick Cahuzac After String of Poor Results
