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French top-flight club Lens has officially announced the appointment of German coach Dino Toppmöller on a two-year deal. He replaces Pierre Sage, who recently moved to Crystal Palace.
Toppmöller previously served as assistant to Julian Nagelsmann at RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich. He then took charge of Eintracht Frankfurt between July 2023 and January 2026, a period during which the German side faced Levski Sofia in the Conference League playoffs. He was ultimately dismissed by the "Eagles."
The 45-year-old Toppmöller, considered a Francophile, faces the challenging task of succeeding Pierre Sage, who led the team to their first Coupe de France triumph and a second-place finish in the regular season.
"Dino has exactly the profile we're looking for," said Lens sporting director Jean-Louis Leca in a club statement. "He's a coach who has managed 45 matches in Europe, knows the Champions League, speaks several languages including French, and has a reputation for developing young players. Dino is a proponent of a three-at-the-back defense, and his desire for the team to play attacking football aligns with Lens' DNA," Leca added. Lens describes him as a "great tactician, known for his intelligence and human qualities, as well as an admirer of the 3-4-4 formation."
Dino Toppmöller is the son of Klaus Toppmöller, a former player with three national team caps and a coach for prominent clubs in Germany, Belgium, and Luxembourg. This marks the first time in their history that Lens has appointed a German coach.
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