Shock departure! Paulo Fonseca set to leave Lyon for Portuguese giants Sporting CP

Pulse Sports Team 20:37 - 02 November 2026

Portuguese manager Paulo Fonseca is poised to leave Olympique Lyonnais to take over at Sporting CP, according to AFP. The Lisbon club parted ways with head coach Rui Borges on Monday, just a day before their Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk in London.

The 53-year-old Fonseca took charge of Lyon in January last year. His contract with the club, where Slovak international goalkeeper Dominik Greif also plays, is valid until the end of the current season. Fonseca has reportedly already informed the Lyon players of his departure. According to AFP, the Olympique board is expected to name Fonseca's successor during the upcoming international break, with former Braga coach Carlos Vicens among the leading candidates.

Assistant coach Jorge Maciel is set to take interim charge of Lyon for the next two matches—first in Thursday's Europa League tie against Real Sociedad, and then in Sunday's league clash away at Brest.