Manchester City haveofficially appointed former Arsenal and City defender Kolo Toure as a permanent member of Pep Guardiola’s first-team coaching staff. The 44-year-old Ivorian takes on the role of assistant first-team coach, marking a significant step in City’s continued efforts to strengthen the connection between their academy and senior squad.
Toure impressed during a temporary spell with the first team at the FIFA Club World Cup earlier this year and now joins the backroom staff full-time ahead of the 2025/26 season. A Premier League champion with both Arsenal’s iconic “Invincibles” in 2004 and Manchester City in 2012.
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His appointment follows a successful stint as Assistant Lead Coach of City’s Under-18 side, working alongside Oliver Reiss to guide the young Blues to the Premier League Under-18 North title. Although City narrowly missed out on national honours, Toure earned widespread praise for his contributions to youth development and his mentorship of players on the cusp of first-team opportunities.
Kolo Toure with Phil Foden
Former Arsenal defender Kolo Toure with Manchester City forward Phil Foden (Image credit: Getty Images)
Toure’s energy and character have also left a lasting impression. Known for his positivity and leadership, he was a valued figure during City’s Club World Cup campaign, where he worked closely with Guardiola, new assistant coach Pep Lijnders, and set-piece specialist James French.
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The move comes as part of a broader coaching reshuffle at City, following the departures of Juanma Lillo, Carlos Vicens, and Inigo Dominguez at the end of last season. Toure now joins Lijnders and French in Guardiola’s refreshed backroom staff as the club looks to bounce back from a testing 2024/25 campaign.
Toure also brings coaching experience from previous roles with the Ivory Coast national team, Celtic, Leicester City, and a brief managerial stint at Wigan Athletic.
Guardiola himself praised the move, highlighting Toure’s work at the academy and his growing influence. “Kolo Toure was already doing excellent work with the Under-18s,” Guardiola said. “We saw his qualities up close and the references were incredible. I’m sure Kolo and Pep [Lijnders] will be great additions to our coaching staff.”
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