The ex Arsenal, Celtic and Liverpool man is following in the footsteps of the legendary gaffer.
Former Celtic defender Kolo Toure is leaving his post as Manchester City assistant manager following the departure of boss Pep Guardiola.
The ex Arsenal and Liverpool man has served as one Guardiola’s coaches since July and helped them to the domestic cup double this season. Shortly after, the Spaniard confirmed he’d be leaving the club after a decade in the Etihad dugout, where he won 16 major honours. Toure will now follow suit, along with four other member of City’s backroom staff.
As a player, Toure was part of the iconic Celtic side who went invincible during manager Brendan Rodgers’ first spell. The Ivorian is the only player in history to have completed this feat twice with two different teams, having also went unbeaten with Arsenal during the 2003/04 Premier League campaign. During his season at Celtic Park, he also helped the side win both domestic cups, but at the age of 36, hung up his boots at the end of the campaign after his contract ran out.
Toure follows Guardiola to City exit door
A club statement read: “Manchester City can confirm the departures of five members of the Club’s backroom staff following the completion of the 2025/26 season. Pep Lijnders, Kolo Toure, Lorenzo Buenaventura, Manel Estiarte and Xabi Mancisidor will all leave the Club.
“Toure, a Premier League winner with City as a player, was also appointed to the first team backroom staff before the most recent campaign after previously supporting the Lead Coach of our Under-18s squad. 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.”
The future now remains unclear for the 45-year old, whose only experience as the top dog in the dugout was a disastrous spell with Wigan Athletic. However since then, his record at the Etihad speaks for itself, where before becoming an assistant he helped with player development.
Invincible hero on ‘incredible’ Celtic career
Toure also spent a period in the dugout under Rodgers at Celtic before moving to Leicester City alongside the Northern Irishman. Speaking on the Breakdown podcast in 2024, the former Celt reflected on his time at Parkhead. He said: “Joining Celtic, I was going there because of Brendan Rodgers.
“I was following Celtic a little bit, but not overly, I have to be honest. When I trained there I wasn't sure what I was going to see there. I went to the training ground, I see the people, I see the fans it was incredible. The passion, it was incredible. They love the club, they love the club. The competition between Celtic and Rangers. There's not many like that. It's religious, I would say. They don't like each other, they hate each other.”
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