Racing Lens Taps German Coach After Manager's Departure: "Exactly the Type We Were Looking For"

Pulse Sports Team 12:32 - 16 June 2026

German Dino Toppmöller has been appointed as the new head coach of Racing Lens. According to AFP, he has agreed to a contract with the reigning Ligue 1 runners-up until June 2028.

The 45-year-old Toppmöller steps in for Pierre Sage, who is set to manage Crystal Palace next season. Toppmöller's most recent role was with Eintracht Frankfurt, where he guided them to the Champions League. However, the club's management ended their four-year collaboration with him in January.

"Dino is precisely the type of coach we were looking for," stated Racing's sporting director, Jean-Louis Leca. Lens was one of the most pleasant surprises in France last season, finishing second in the league table, six points behind Paris Saint-Germain.

In the upcoming season, the team from northern France will compete in the Champions League group stage. Before that, they face PSG in the French Super Cup on August 16th, followed by three league matches against Auxerre, Strasbourg, and Lorient starting August 22nd.