In a development that’s sure to raise eyebrows across English football – and perhaps even ruffle a few feathers down the East Lancs Road – Manchester City are poised to bolster their backroom staff with the eye-catching appointment of Pep Lijnders.
As reported by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Lijnders is set to join Pep Guardiola’s coaching team ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, following his departure from Red Bull Salzburg late last year.
Lijnders, famously Jurgen Klopp’s trusted lieutenant at Liverpool and a tactical brain credited with shaping much of their recent success, is now preparing to swap red for sky blue – a move that not only deepens the intrigue surrounding next season’s title race but also adds a touch of psychological spice to an already fierce rivalry.
While specifics around Lijnders’ role at the Etihad remain closely guarded, it is understood he will serve as a senior assistant, involved in day-to-day training operations and strategic planning on matchdays – effectively slotting into Guardiola’s inner circle.
This appointment is notable not just for the talent being added to City’s coaching ranks, but also for what it signals about Lijnders himself. The Dutchman has long been touted as a future head coach in his own right, yet the lure of working under Guardiola – a manager widely regarded as the finest of his generation – appears to have proven irresistible.
It’s a coup for City and another marker of their ambition to remain not just at the summit of English football, but to continue evolving behind the scenes. With Lijnders’ intimate knowledge of Liverpool’s tactical DNA, the move also adds a fascinating subplot to future meetings between the two clubs.
And Guardiola may not be finished there. Reports suggest former City and Arsenal stalwart Kolo Touré could also be in line for a return to the Etihad in a coaching capacity, hinting at a broader reshuffle as City sharpen their focus for the challenges ahead.