Manchester City add ex-defender Kolo Toure to Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff

Manchester City have confirmed the promotion of Kolo Toure to their senior coaching staff, elevating the former defender from his role with the under-18s to a full-time position as first-team assistant coach.

Toure, who previously played for City between 2009 and 2013, was temporarily brought into Pep Guardiola’s coaching team during the Club World Cup in the United States.

Following a successful spell, the club has now decided to make the move permanent.

The 43-year-old Ivorian joins a newly reshaped backroom staff, which includes Pep Lijnders – previously Jurgen Klopp’s long-serving assistant at Liverpool – and former Liverpool set-piece analyst James French, both of whom joined Guardiola’s team earlier this summer.

City’s director of football Hugo Viana praised Toure’s progression and impact at youth level, saying: “We have been hugely impressed with his work and success with our under-18s and adding him into our senior staff permanently will only strengthen the transition for players in our academy into the first team.

🚨🇨🇮 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 | Kolo Toure will now permanently be a part of Pep Guardiola's backroom staff at Manchester City! 🧠

He will be a first team assistant coach. ✅ pic.twitter.com/0RdTPMCNUP

— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) July 15, 2025

“As we already saw throughout his time with Pep Guardiola, Pep Lijnders and James French this summer, his massive personality of optimism and positivity is hugely infectious and we are already looking forward to his work moving forward.”

Toure previously captained the Ivorian national team and played for Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool during an illustrious playing career.

He returned to City to begin his coaching journey and had already made a strong impression in his role with the youth team.

City’s backroom shake-up follows the departures of key staff members. Juanma Lillo and Inigo Dominguez both left the club at the end of last season, while Carlos Vicens took on a head coaching role at Portuguese side Braga.

Despite a dominant run in recent years, City ended last season without a major trophy. The club will be hoping that the refreshed coaching staff can help inspire another successful campaign under Guardiola’s leadership.