Fakayejo Paul
Manchester City are reportedly exploring options to bolster Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff, with former City defender Kolo Touré and ex-Liverpool assistant Pep Lijnders emerging as two key candidates under consideration.
This comes as the club prepares to fill significant vacancies following the recent departures of Juanma Lillo, Íñigo Domínguez, and Carlos Vicens.
The trio of coaches recently left City, with Juanma Lillo reportedly seeking a return to Spain, Íñigo Domínguez not having his contract renewed, and Carlos Vicens taking on a head coach role at SC Braga.
These departures necessitate new blood in Guardiola’s backroom team as City gears up for the FIFA Club World Cup and the new domestic season.
Kolo Touré, a popular figure at the Etihad from his playing days, has been building his coaching experience since retiring.
He previously worked as an assistant to Brendan Rodgers at Celtic and Leicester City, and also had a brief stint as manager of Wigan Athletic.
More recently, he returned to Manchester City in the academy setup with the U18s, showcasing his commitment to developing his coaching career.
His understanding of the club’s culture and his defensive expertise could be a valuable asset.
Pep Lijnders, renowned for his tactical acumen and high-intensity training methods, was a crucial part of Jürgen Klopp’s highly successful backroom staff at Liverpool for many years.
He recently had a brief, less successful spell as head coach at Red Bull Salzburg.
Lijnders is known for his detailed approach to coaching and his ability to implement demanding playing styles.
His experience at a top Premier League club and his knowledge of the league could be highly beneficial for City.
Decisions on the new staff members are expected soon as Guardiola looks to refresh his coaching team and bring in fresh ideas to continue City’s pursuit of silverware.