Man City Appoints Former Liverpool Coaches Lijnders, French

Manchester City has strengthened Pep Guardiola's coaching staff by appointing two former Liverpool coaches: Pepijn Lijnders as assistant coach and James French as set-piece coach. Both coaches bring extensive experience, having worked under Jurgen Klopp and Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool, with Lijnders also having a brief stint as Red Bull Salzburg's head coach. These appointments come after the departure of three members of Guardiola's previous backroom staff and aim to bolster the team following a trophyless 2024/25 season where City finished third in the Premier League. Kolo Toure, currently an Under-18 coach at City, will join the backroom staff for the upcoming Club World Cup in the United States, where City will defend their title. The club is also adjusting its squad and coaching arrangements for the tournament, opting for a smaller, more established squad rather than a larger group including many youngsters. City’s Club World Cup campaign begins against Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia, marking an important test for the revamped coaching team ahead of the new season.