German coach Dino Toppmöller appointed new RC Lens manager

Dino Toppmöller steps into the role of head coach for RC Lens, taking over from Pierre Sage who departed for Crystal Palace after a successful season. The 45-year-old German manager brings experience from his tenure at Eintracht Frankfurt, where he achieved notable Bundesliga finishes, including third place in 2025, the club's best in three decades.

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I don’t have a preferred system, it depends on the squad or the players in form.

Despite his successes at Frankfurt, Toppmöller was dismissed in January 2026 due to disappointing results and a leaky defense. However, his coaching pedigree includes significant roles as an assistant to Julian Nagelsmann at RB Leipzig and Bayern Munich. He is known for his admiration of tactical innovators like Pep Guardiola, Jürgen Klopp, and Thomas Tuchel.

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his way of preparing his team for each opponent

Toppmöller, whose father is former West Germany international Klaus Toppmöller, describes himself as a modern coach who adapts his tactics to his squad's strengths. While he has often favored a three-man defense and counter-attacking style, he has also employed more traditional formations like a 4-4-2 to leverage attacking partnerships, such as the one between Omar Marmoush and Hugo Ekitike at Frankfurt.

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his leadership, how he gets others to go through a fiery circle with him