Kolo Toure has secured a permanent role as assistant first team coach at Manchester City, returning to the club where he spent four seasons as a player.
The former Ivory Coast international featured for City between 2009 and 2013 after moving from Arsenal, before eventually linking up with Brendan Rodgers at Celtic in 2016.
Toure was part of the backroom team that guided Celtic to a historic unbeaten domestic treble during Rodgers’ first season in charge.
He initially joined as a player, making 20 appearances across all competitions, before retiring and stepping into a coaching role the following campaign.
After leaving Glasgow with Rodgers in 2019, Toure followed him to Leicester City, continuing in a coaching capacity until 2022.
His next move was into management with Wigan Athletic, though his time there proved short-lived.
We’re delighted to confirm the permanent appointment of Kolo Toure to Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff 🩵
— Manchester City (@ManCity) July 15, 2025
He failed to pick up a win in any of his nine matches and was let go in early 2023.
Soccer Football – FIFA Club World Cup – Manchester City Training – Lynn University, Boca Raton, Florida, U.S. – June 21, 2025 Manchester City assistant coach Kolo Toure and Ilkay Gundogan during training REUTERS/Marco Bello
More recently, Toure was involved with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City squad at the FIFA Club World Cup, where he served as an assistant during the tournament.
City’s campaign ended in the Round of 16 following an extra-time defeat to Al-Hilal. That experience appears to have paved the way for his full-time appointment as part of Guardiola’s backroom team.
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