New star addition to Manchester City coaching staff revealed in low-key unveiling

Pep Guardiola and Manchester City have issued a low-key unveiling of a new member of coaching staff for the FIFA Club World Cup, and potentially beyond the tournament.

It is the latest alteration to a roster of first-team coaching staff that was rearranged upon the conclusion of the most recent season, with three departures announced by Manchester City in a club statement.

Long-standing assistant manager Juanma Lillo and technical coach Inigo Dominguez would both vacate their positions following expiry of contracts, with the former also indicating a desire to return to Spain.

Elsewhere, Carlos Vicens – who also held responsibility as a set-piece coach within Guardiola’s structure – would take up the opportunity to become the new head coach of Portuguese side SC Braga, despite an offer of a new contract from Manchester City.

Acting swiftly to make up for the departures, Manchester City welcomed Jurgen Klopp’s former assistant in Pepijn Lijnders to stand alongside Guardiola, as well as a key analyst from Arne Slot’s Liverpool operation in James French to take up the role of set-piece coach.

Now, as spotted in Manchester City training ground photos and media from the United States, former central defender and Under-18s coach Kolo Toure has also been promoted into the first-team set-up for the FIFA Club World Cup this summer.

It remains to be seen whether the step up into Manchester City’s first-team operation will be a permanent move for Toure, who made the move from Arsenal to the Etihad Stadium as a player back in 2009 for a £14 million fee.

The Ivorian and his Manchester City colleagues are currently in the process of preparing the squad for their tournament opener at the Club World Cup against Wydad AC on Wednesday evening, before clashes against Al Ain and Juventus also await.

Fans across the globe will be most excited to see debuts for their three new outfield signings this summer, with Rayan Ait-Nouri arriving at left-back from Wolves, Tijjani Reijnders coming into the number 8 from AC Milan, and Rayan Cherki adding creativity in attack.