Paulo Fonseca leaves Olympique Lyonnais to manage Sporting Lisbon

On November 4, 2026, Olympique Lyonnais officially announced the departure of head coach Paulo Fonseca. The Portuguese manager is set to leave the French club after nearly two years of service to take charge of Sporting Lisbon, where he will replace Rui Borges.

Lyon confirmed that Fonseca informed the board of his desire to leave after being approached by a club he holds in high regard. The club expressed deep regret over the timing of this decision, as it occurred abruptly during the ongoing competitive season. The board stated that continuing the collaboration was no longer in the best interest of the team, as total dedication could not be guaranteed. As a result, Jorge Maciel has been appointed as the interim coach for the French side while they undergo this mid-season transition.

The club management emphasized that they were caught off guard by the request but chose to accept it to ensure the squad remains focused on its objectives. The transition is effective immediately during the current international break, allowing the club time to reorganize its leadership structure.