Manchester City have confirmed the addition of former Liverpool assistant coach Pepijn Lijnders to Pep Guardiola’s coaching team, in a move aimed at bolstering the club’s backroom staff following a challenging season.
Lijnders, 42, joins the reigning European champions alongside James French, Liverpool’s former set-piece coach, who spent 13 years at Anfield. The duo replaces three outgoing staff members from Guardiola’s technical team.
Lijnders brings a wealth of experience, having worked under both Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. After departing Anfield with Klopp at the close of the 2023/24 season, he briefly managed Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg before being dismissed in December.
City’s Director of Football, Hugo Viana, expressed confidence in the new appointments, stating, “Pepijn and James have each amassed huge experience working in their individual roles over the past few years. Their talent, application, and work ethic are totally aligned with the values that underpin how Pep wants football to be played.”
Manchester City are looking to rebound after a disappointing 2024/25 campaign, which saw them finish third in the Premier League and end the season without silverware for the first time in eight years.
The club will now turn its focus to the expanded 32-team FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, where they will compete as defending champions. City’s opening match will be against Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia on June 18. The month-long tournament kicks off on June 14.
Written By Rodney Mbua
