Only played amateur football, with CS Belley, from ages of six to 24, as well as coaching there from 16. Worked his way through the lower rungs of French football in a range of roles, before taking charge of Lyon’s youth set-up in 2019. Big break came in November 2023, when he was appointed as Lyon’s interim manager after Fabio Grosso was sacked with the club rooted to the foot of Ligue 1. Transformed their fortunes, steering them to a sixth-place finish and final of Coupe de France. Left for RC Lens in June 2025 and in his single season in charge delivered their first Coupe de France as well as finishing second in Ligue 1. Was named Manager of the Year.
Crystal Palace
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Training Ground
Crystal Palace Training Ground, Copers Cope Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 1RJ
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Academy
Crystal Palace Academy, Copers Cope Road, BR3 1NZ
Gary Issott
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Academy info
Academy Category: One
Academy Director: Gary Issott
Position in 2024/25 Academy Productivity Rankings: 22nd
Under-21s Head Coach: Darren Powell
Sporting Director
English
Matt Hobbs
Sporting Director
Replaced Dougie Freedman as Sporting Director in September 2025 as part of a restructure at Palace. Had previously held the same position at Wolves, having started in 2015 as a part-time Academy scout.
Coaching
French
Pierre Sage
Head Coach
Moroccan
Jamal Alioui
Assistant
Held the same role under Sage at Lyon and followed him to Lens. A former Morocco international right-back who captained his country at the 2004 Olympics. Has also coached Morocco’s U20s and several French clubs, including Nancy and FC Versailles.
French
Damien Della Santa
Player Development & Set Piece Coach
Worked as Assistant under Sage at Lyon as well as at OGC Nice. Became a coach at 14 and maintains an ongoing role with the French Football Federation as a coach educator and researcher.
Irish
Paddy McCarthy
Assistant
Played more than 250 senior games as a player. Appointed Palace U18 Head Coach in 2016. Progressed to the U21s before joining the first-team staff under Hodgson.
English
Andy Quy
Goalkeeping Coach
Appointed in November 2025 under Oliver Glasner and remained when Sage arrived. Performed the same role at Lincoln, Stoke, Brentford, Charlotte FC (where he was also Assistant) and Huddersfield. Played as a goalkeeper himself – mainly for Hereford United in the fifth tier.
Performance
English
Jamie Goldsmith
Head of Sports Science
Joined in December 2018 from Notts County. Promoted to Head of Strength and Conditioning at the start of 2022 and moved into current role in February 2024.
French
Sandy Guichard
Fitness Coach
Joins after seven years in the same role at Monaco, with previous spells at Sion, Sochaux, Bordeaux, Dijon, Besançon and Trabzonspor, and past experience with the Algeria national team.
Medical
English
Joe Ranson
Physio
Physio for six years at Charlton Athletic. Joined Crystal Palace in 2020 as Head of Academy Medical, and became a first team physio in 2023.
Cian Walsh
Physio
Promoted to First Team in August 2025 after a year as Head of Academy Physiotherapy. Previously worked for Fulham and also rugby union clubs Dragons, Exeter Chiefs and Ealing Trailfinders as well as the Welsh Rugby Union.
English
Harry Bearman
Rehabilitation Coach
Worked for Millwall and Charlton before joining Palace in September 2019.
English
Neil Baron
Soft Tissue Therapist
Previous rehab roles at Leyton Orient and Millwall before joining Crystal Palace in January 2024.
English
David Rafferty
Soft Tissue Therapist
Appointed in April 2026 after nearly eight years at West Bromwich Albion. Previously worked for seven-and-a-half years as a Sports Masseur at St Helens rugby league club.
Analysts
English
Jamie Thompson
Performance Analyst
Started as an intern with Norwich City before being promoted to first-team staff in 2021. Now works at Crystal Palace and has done since August 2024.
English
Thomas Johnson
Head of Analysis
Promoted from Head of Academy Performance Analysis to first team in April 2019 and into current role in July 2024. Joined club in July 2017 from Derby.
English
Kieran Dowler
Performance Analyst
Joined in July 2021 from Tottenham, where he had worked full-time for a year.
English
Uche Okolo
Performance Analyst
Joined Palace in July 2021 after eight months as a Performance Analyst for Charlton Athletic’s women’s side.
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