Manchester City has confirmed Pep Lijnders will leave the club along with Pep Guardiola's other assistants, but one former Liverpool coach is set to stay at the Etihad Stadium
Simon Bajkowski Chief Manchester City Writer and James Findlater Content Editor
19:38, 26 May 2026Updated 19:44, 26 May 2026
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola with his assistants Pep Lijnders and Kolo Toure
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola with his assistants Pep Lijnders and Kolo Toure(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester City has announced that five key members of its coaching staff - including Pep Lijnders - will depart this summer alongside Pep Guardiola. The outgoing manager is bidding farewell after a decade at the helm, with the majority of his backroom team following suit.
Among those leaving are his trusted right-hand man Manel Estiarte and fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura, both of whom have accompanied Guardiola throughout his entire tenure in Manchester. Goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor is also heading for the exit, having spent even longer at the club after joining during Manuel Pellegrini's reign.
Guardiola's No.2 Lijnders and assistant Kolo Toure are likewise departing, despite having only spent a year on the backroom staff.
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Toure had been elevated from the academy ranks while Lijnders joined following a brief spell managing RB Salzburg in 2024, having left Liverpool that same year following Jurgen Klopp's decision to stand down as manager.
Lijnders, according to the Daily Mail, had been offered a new deal at City. The Etihad side hoped to keep him so he could act as a bridge between the Guardiola era and the new one, though he looks to have turned it down.
James French, who joined from Liverpool last summer as set-piece coach, is anticipated to remain, but City will nonetheless face several significant vacancies to fill.
Pep Guardiola and Pep Ljinders
Former Liverpool assistant coach Pep Ljinders (R) will follow Pep Guardiola out the door at Manchester City this summer
Enzo Maresca is widely expected to bring a number of his trusted staff to the Etihad, should the Italian be confirmed as the club's new manager.
Guardiola has urged the club's supporters to show patience with whoever takes charge as the club seeks to move forward from one of the most extraordinary decades in their history. The 55-year-old concluded his final press conference as City manager by endorsing the succession plan, reports the Manchester Evening News.
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"They are stubborn, they know exactly what they want to do and they know perfectly that the opponents are so tough here and in Europe. We don't take trophies for granted, we won finals against Arsenal and Chelsea - I wouldn't say they are not good teams," he said.
"We fought against a team like Aston Villa, who won the Europa League. Top teams. I would only like to say to the fans that every single step, don't wait to win the Premier League or Champions League to be happy. Enjoy the process. I know all the players here will do it."