Paulo Fonseca Leaves Lyon To Become New Sporting Coach

Paulo Fonseca leaves Lyon to take over as Sporting coach

Paulo Fonseca has left Olympique Lyonnais to join Sporting. Lyon called it an unexpected decision in mid-season, as Sporting move to replace Rui Borges.

Paulo Fonseca joins Sporting from Lyon In €5m deal...

Portuguese coach Paulo Fonseca has been named Sporting's new manager after spending over a year and a half in charge of Olympique Lyonnais, the French club confirmed on Wednesday.

The 53-year-old will succeed Rui Borges, after the Portuguese club announced on Sunday that it had started talks to end his contract.

In a statement, Lyon confirmed that Sporting will pay a €5 million fee to secure the move.

Lyon said they “deeply regre” this “unexpected decision,” especially because of “its timing in the middle of the season.”

Official: Paulo Fonseca leaves OL to join Sporting CP. https://t.co/yjOtjLDEDR https://t.co/VGFHLy7luc

— Olympique Lyonnais 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@OL_English) November 4, 2026

Sporting are currently sixth in the Champions League standings on nine points and third in Liga Portugal, while Lyon are 12th in the Europa League and third in Ligue 1.

Jorge Maciel, who served as Fonseca's assistant, will take over at Lyon on an interim basis.