Kolo Toure has been appointed as an assistant coach to Pep Guardiola on a permanent basis after a successful period with the Manchester City first team at the Club World Cup.
The Ivorian defender, who made over 350 Premier League appearances for Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City, was promoted in June after working with the club’s under-18 group
He had impressed the academy with his personality and three coaching staff departures in one summer presented an opportunity for Toure to step up and help Guardiola’s squad.
It was initially a temporary arrangement but his month-long stint, which included some work with the defensive unit, has convinced the club that he will add to the group.
“We’re delighted to permanently add Kolo to our first team coaching staff,” said Man City sporting director Hugo Viana.
“Not only does he bring his immensely precious experience at football’s elite level, but he also has a deep connection with Manchester City and a deep knowledge of the Club.
“We’ve also been hugely impressed with his work and success with our Under-18s, and by adding him into our senior staff permanently, this will only strengthen the transition for players in our Academy into the first team.
“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’re already looking forward to his work moving forward.”
Man City’s new-look staff
Guardiola lost three members of backroom staff in Juanma Lillo, Carlos Vicens and Inigo Dominguez this summer, and replaced them with former Liverpool duo Pep Lijnders and James French.
Toure’s permanent appointment means City now have the same number of coaches around Guardiola but, given their defensive struggles in recent times, it will be hoped his experience can contribute to an improvement in that area.
He was Ivory Coast under-23 manager before becoming assistant of the senior men’s national team but his first and only experience of being a number one came at Wigan Athletic from November 2022, where he lasted less than two months after not winning any of his nine games in charge.
Guardiola is used to re-shuffling his support staff, so this is nothing new.
Mikel Arteta spent almost four years at City before taking over at Arsenal in 2019, while Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca spent a season with Guardiola before moving to Leicester City.
Domenec Torrent and Rodolfo Borrell left City in 2018 and 2023, respectively, having been on Guardiola’s staff at his previous clubs too.
Despite finishing last season without silverware, Manchester City continues to reshape its coaching ranks as it looks to maintain competitive momentum heading into the 2025–26 campaign.
