Pep Lijnders and Kolo Toure among five to walk out after the Spaniard’s tenure ends
Manchester City have confirmed the departures of five members of their backroom staff, including Pep Lijnders and Kolo Toure, following Pep Guardiola’s exit after a decade in charge.
In addition to Ljinders and Toure, fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura, goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor and long-time confidant of Guardiola’s Manel Estiarte are also leaving the club. City announced Guardiola’s departure last week, bringing an end to a 10-year spell in which he delivered six Premier League titles, three FA Cups, five League Cups and the Champions League as part of the 2022-23 treble.
Lijnders’ departure comes after only one season at the Etihad. The Dutchman arrived last summer having previously served as Jurgen Klopp’s assistant at Liverpool but will now leave alongside several of Guardiola’s longest-serving allies.
Buenaventura had worked with Guardiola since their time together at Barcelona and Bayern Munich before following him to City in 2016, while Estiarte held a key support and operations role throughout Guardiola’s managerial career across the three clubs.
Mancisidor also departs after a lengthy association with City, having originally joined under Manuel Pellegrini in 2013.
Toure leaves after a shorter spell with the first team. The former Ivory Coast defender, who won the Premier League title with City in 2012 after his 2004 success with Arsenal, had been promoted into Guardiola’s senior coaching setup last summer after impressing during previous work with the academy and a temporary role with the first team.
Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca is expected to succeed Guardiola and will likely bring his own staff. Maresca previously worked under Guardiola at City as part of the Spaniard’s backroom staff.
City said in statement: “Everyone at City would like to thank all five members of staff for their hard work and dedication and wish them the very best of luck in the future.”
