Former Wolves manager Bruno Lage has reportedly launched a £6million lawsuit at the High Court against Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor – claiming he was strung along with a promise of a top managerial job that never came.
The Portuguese coach, 48, insists the American billionaire, who is contesting the claim, gave him verbal assurances that he would be appointed manager at either Crystal Palace or French club Lyon – both part of Textor’s multi-club empire.
But instead of walking into a Premier League dugout, Lage says he was left in the cold, turning down other offers. Now he wants compensation for the work – and wages – he missed out on, as reported by the Telegraph.
The ‘legally binding contract’ – said to cover a three-month period from January 1 to April 15 last year – was reportedly signed just weeks after Lage landed the top job at Textor’s Brazilian outfit Botafogo in July 2023, signing a six-month contract.
Lage, back in the game after his Wolves exit in 2022, was shown the door in under three months, bringing his brief Brazilian adventure to an abrupt end.
Palace went on to appoint Oliver Glasner as their new manager in February 2024 as a replacement for Roy Hodgson, who had stepped down.
Bruno Lage has reportedly launched a £6million lawsuit against Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor
Lage claims John Textor (pictured) promised to appoint him as Crystal Palace or Lyon manager
Meanwhile, Lyon hired Pierre Sage as their new head coach in July of that year, having taken charge of the side on an interim basis from the previous November.
Lage, who is now in charge of Benfica once again, believes the verbal commitment damaged his career and cost him financially – and he’s taking his fight to court.
The alleged contract reportedly included a clause requiring Eagle Football Holdings – John Textor’s ownership group – to pay Lage the agreed sum by April 29, 2024, should he not receive an offer from either Crystal Palace or Lyon during the specified timeframe.
Lage is seeking £5.92 million in damages — a figure he claims reflects the total value of the agreement. He is also pursuing legal costs, interest, and any additional relief the court may deem appropriate.
According to the lawsuit, the contract included a penalty clause that would require Lage to pay £2.75m to Textor if he took a managerial role outside of Crystal Palace or Lyon during the specified period — effectively limiting his employment options.
Eagle Football Holdings have issued a statement saying: ‘Eagle Football is aware of a court claim filed against it on behalf of Bruno Silva Do Nascimento (known as ‘Bruno Lage’).
‘The claim relates to a dispute over the proper interpretation of a historical agreement between Eagle and Mr Lage. Eagle’s view is that Mr Lage is not contractually entitled to the sums being claimed on his behalf. Accordingly, Eagle will vigorously defend the claim and seek to recover its costs of doing so from Mr Lage.
‘Eagle Football notes that Bruno Lage’s claim relates to an alleged failure to offer him a role at one of its clubs. Eagle Football finds it curious that Bruno Lage feels aggrieved by this given that, as was widely reported, he effectively walked away from one of Eagle Football’s clubs Botafogo; walking out of a live press conference during Botafogo’s game against its biggest rival, in a crucial match in the 2023 Brazilian Championship Series A, and announcing that he should be terminated at a time when he was clearly supported by ownership.
Crystal Palace opted to appoint Oliver Glasner as their new manager in February 2024
‘Eagle Football remains open to a constructive discussion with Bruno Lage or his representatives with a view to resolving the dispute and settling the litigation which will ultimately serve neither party.’
Lage was sacked by Wolves in October 2022 after a poor run of results, having previous led the club to a 10th-place finish in his first season in charge.
