QPR backed to appoint "progressive" 46-year-old manager to replace Marti Cifuentes | OneFootball

Marti Cifuentes looks certain to leave QPR, with French manager Pierre Sage the bookies favourite to replace him.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Queens Park Rangers are being touted with French coach Pierre Sage as the club search for a new manager to replace Marti Cifuentes.

Cifuentes is seemingly desperate to force a move out of QPR and has recently been placed on gardening leave, but with assistant coaches Kevin Betsy and Xavi Calm leading the club out for the end of the Championship season, surely there is no going back for the Spaniard.

With speculation intensifying and Sage now the bookies’ favourite, the potential appointment has sparked considerable discussion among the fanbase.

Sage was in charge of Ligue 1 side Olympique Lyonnais between 2023 and 2025, where he enjoyed a strong run of form after taking the managerial role on an interim and then permanent basis.

The ideal profile for QPR

His profile as a European coach with a progressive footballing philosophy appears to align closely with the direction QPR are aiming for under the leadership of CEO Christian Nourry.

FLW's QPR fan pundit Louis Moir, speaking on the potential appointment, offered an assessment of Sage’s credentials and why he believes the Frenchman would be a good fit at Loftus Road.

“I think after looking deep into Pierre Sage, I’d be happy with him,” Louis said.

“I think it is the move we are likely to make with Christian Nourry in charge, it would tick a lot of boxes in my opinion. European, progressive, upcoming and after looking into him, he had some win record at Lyon, got them into the Europa League, I think about 55% win ratio.”

That win ratio is impressive given that this was Sage’s first full professional managerial position.

Appointed in challenging circumstances at Lyon, he managed to stabilise the club’s performances and guide them into European contention.

Louis gave his view on Sage’s stint at Lyon and compared the quality of Ligue 1 to the Championship.

“Obviously the French league debatable in terms of quality and competitiveness but Lyon are a big club and for him to do that in his first full managerial job, it seemed really positive,” he added.

Hiring a long-term manager would help QPR

Sage’s style of play also seems to match QPR’s ambition to play attacking and developmental football.

His reputation for developing young talent could prove valuable at a club where promoting youth and building long-term value are clear parts of the strategy.

“He seems to develop young players as well, seems to have an attacking way of playing football. It fits the bill of what we’re looking for and with him being the bookies’ favourite there must be something in that. I’d be really, really excited.”

Sage's potential impact on recruitment

Louis also highlighted the potential for Sage’s European profile to positively influence recruitment.

With much of the player acquisition responsibility falling under CEO Nourry’s remit, having a coach with experience and a growing reputation in European football could help attract new talent to the club.

“Another foreign coach with new ideas, you would have to think of the recruitment, the majority is done by the CEO but having a coach like that with a bit of pedigree behind him might attract certain players and get players to sign from abroad,” he said.

The idea of taking a chance on an up-and-coming European manager isn’t unfamiliar territory for Championship clubs, and QPR could be hoping to replicate some of the recent success seen by others who have taken a similar route.

“It’s an appointment that I would like to see. Without knowing who Pierre Sage is, when you look into him and look at clubs who have taken a risk on European coaches before, it has worked so I’d be very confident in him coming over here and doing a good job, I really welcome it.”

Sage’s potential arrival would mark another key decision in QPR’s efforts to rebuild and push for greater consistency in the Championship.

With the club’s recent managerial history being turbulent, a fresh start under someone with Sage’s profile might represent both a risk and an opportunity.