Lyon has appointed former AC Milan Fonsec chief

Lyon made the former manager of AC Milan Paulo Fonsec with his new main coach just a month after leaving San Siro.

Fonseca, 51, signed a two -year contract with the Ligue 1 Club and replaces Pierre Sage.

Lyon released Sage earlier this week, but entered the last 16 League of Europe after a domestic 1-1 draw with Ludogorets in their last group phase on Thursday.

🚨 @Pfonsecacoach is our new coach! 🔴🔵

Welcome, Paulo! 🤝 pic.twitter.com/oqgr6goxal

– Olympique Lyonnais 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@ol_english) 31. January 2025

The club is sixth in a French top flight after managing only one win in the last five league matches and was thrown out of the French Cup after the defeat of the French Fifth Bourgin-Jallie.

“Olympique Lyonnais is pleased to announce the appointment of Paul Fonsec as a professional team coach until June 30, 2027,” Lyon said in a statement.

“This choice, which John Textor and the entire sports management unanimously took, is part of the desire to provide Olympiky Lyonnais with a strong ambition, both on the national and European scene.”

Fonseca released Milan after only six months in the business. He previously managed Lille to Ligue 1, leading them to fourth place last season.

He won the Portuguese Super Cup with Portoom 2013, the Portugal Cup with Braga in 2015-16, as well as the Ukrainian Premier League with Shakhtar three times in a row.

His first match in charge of Lyon will be their trip to Marseille on Sunday.