Paulo Fonseca’s exit was confirmed on Wednesday, less than two years after the 53-year-old Portuguese coach took charge at the Groupama Stadium. Lyon sit third in Ligue 1, three points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain, and are through to the knockout phase of the Europa League.
Sporting paid Lyon €5m in compensation, and Fonseca signed a deal through 2030.
Lyon did not hide their anger. “Approached in recent days by a club to which he is particularly attached, Paulo Fonseca has informed the management of his wish to leave Olympique Lyonnais,” the club said in a statement.
“An unexpected decision which OL deeply regrets, all the more so by its timing in the middle of the season.”
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The French club added that it was “not in the interest of the club to continue a collaboration that could no longer guarantee the level of total commitment essential to the success of the project.”
Jorge Maciel, Fonseca’s assistant, has been placed in interim charge. Several reports point to Carlos Vicens, the 43-year-old Portuguese coach recently dismissed by Braga and a former assistant to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, as the favourite to take the job permanently.
‘A dream come true’
Fonseca was unveiled at the Alvalade later the same day.
“I am a professional, but I cannot fail to say that this club has always been special to me. I’ve been a fan since I was a child,” he told reporters at the presentation.
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“There are dreams that come true, and mine has come true.”
Sporting dismissed Rui Borges on Monday after a sluggish start to the Primeira Liga. The Lisbon club sit third in the league, nine points off leaders Porto, and sixth in the Champions League phase. Fonseca confirmed he had spoken to Borges by phone before signing.
His first match is at home to Moreirense on Saturday.
‘I had to quickly empty my office’
Sacked by AC Milan on 30 December 2024, hours after a 1-1 home draw with Roma, Fonseca told DAZN outside San Siro that night that he had not spoken to anyone at the club about his dismissal.
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Asked at the Sporting presentation whether he expected a call from his successor at Lyon, Fonseca returned to that story.
“I had to quickly empty my office and my locker because the new coach wanted to move in,” he said according to MilanReports, recalling that Sérgio Conceição had already been contracted while Fonseca was still coaching a match at Milan.
“In football, these situations are part of the game and I did not take it personally.”
Maciel’s first task is a home Europa League tie against Real Sociedad, with a trip to Stade Brestois in Ligue 1 to follow before the international break.
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