Man City announce trio are set to depart the club | OneFootball

Three members of Manchester City’s coaching staff are set to depart the club, they have announced.

Guardiola’s second in command Juanma Lillo, who managed City in Guardiola’s absence last season, is among those who will depart.

Across two spells, the Spaniard spent four years as assistant manager at the Etihad. However, he will now depart when his contract expires, before the Club World Cup.

The club’s statement said: “Lillo, who expressed a desire to return home to Spain, enjoyed two hugely successful periods at the club after originally joining as Pep Guardiola’s assistant coach in 2020. He left City in the summer of 2022 to become head coach of Al-Sadd before rejoining as assistant in 2023.”

Carlos Vicens would be next in line after Lillo, however he is also leaving. After eight years in Manchester, Vicens has agreed to take charge of Portuguese side S.C Braga.

“Vicens has also departed the club after agreeing to become the head coach of Portuguese side S.C Braga,” City said. “The Spaniard, who joined the club in 2017 and helped lead the Under-18s to an FA Youth Cup in 2020, has been part of Guardiola’s backroom staff for four years.”

The third assistant who will exit is Inigo Dominguez. City confirmed: “Dominguez also leaves after supporting Guardiola and the players for the last two years, joining at the same time as Lillo’s second spell at the club.”

These changes leave Guardiola’s coaching staff looking very sparse, with just fitness and goalkeeper coaches remaining.

“The assistant coaches to succeed Juanma, Inigo and Carlos will be announced in due course,” the statement continued.

“Everyone at Manchester City wishes Juanma, Inigo and Carlos the very best and thanks them for their contributions to a hugely successful period for the club.”

It is set to be a summer of significant change at City, with club legend Kevin De Bruyne’s exit already confirmed and he will not be the only big name to leave the club this summer.