LYON, France (AP) — Carlos Vicens is the new coach at Ligue 1 club Lyon after the sudden departure of Paulo Fonseca.

The seven-time French champion said late Monday that the 43-year-old Spanish coach signed an 18-month contract to June 30, 2028.

Fonseca left abruptly to join Sporting Lisbon last week.

Vicens previously worked at Manchester City, initially coaching in the academy where he notably managed the under-18s. He later joined Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff in 2021 and spent four seasons with the first team.

Lyon said Vicens’ playing philosophy, high standards and emphasis on player development aligned with the club aims.

After eight years at Man City, Vicens took charge of Portugal's SC Braga in the summer of 2025 for his first experience as a head coach in a top league. In his first season he guided the club to fourth place in the Liga Portugal and the Europa League semifinals.

After a 2-0 loss at Brest last weekend, Lyon stood fifth in the Ligue 1 standings, six points behind leader Paris Saint=Germain.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer