Olympique Lyonnais has appointed Carlos Vicens as head coach until June 2028, four days after Paulo Fonseca left during the season. The move fills the immediate vacancy, but it does not yet explain how Lyon will manage the sporting transition.
Franceinfo reported that the appointment was made official on Monday, 9 November, a day after Lyon lost 2-0 to Brest in Ligue 1’s 10th round. The club has moved quickly after a mid-season managerial departure rather than leaving the position unsettled.
Vicens, 43, arrives after working his way through Manchester City’s coaching setup and serving as Pep Guardiola’s assistant from 2021 to 2025. He then took charge of Sporting Braga. According to franceinfo, Braga finished fourth in Portugal and reached the Europa League semi-finals in his first season, before he was dismissed at the end of October after a more difficult start to his second campaign.
That record helps explain Lyon’s choice, but it is not evidence of an instant turnaround. A deal running to 2028 gives Vicens a longer horizon than the urgent circumstances of his appointment. It cannot, on its own, deliver quick results or establish continuity.
The supplied reporting does not set out his coaching staff, his effective start date, his first match, or Lyon’s specific objectives. Those decisions, followed by results on the pitch, will show whether a rapid replacement becomes a credible longer-term project.
Sources
- franceinfo Tous titres · Source date: 2026-11-09
Independent editorial content. WUA is not affiliated with any political party. 2026-11-09