Five Guardiola backroom staff leave Man City alongside departing manager

Five members of Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff will leave Manchester City this summer alongside the departing manager, the club has confirmed. The exits mark the end of a coaching era at the Etihad after Guardiola’s decade in charge.

Among those leaving are Manel Estiarte, Guardiola’s long-serving right-hand man, and fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura — both of whom have been with the manager throughout his entire time in Manchester. Goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor is also departing, having spent even longer at the club after joining during Manuel Pellegrini’s tenure.

Guardiola’s assistant Pep Lijnders and former City defender Kolo Toure are also moving on, despite having joined the backroom staff only a year ago. Lijnders had arrived following a brief spell managing RB Salzburg in 2024, while Toure had been promoted from the club’s academy setup. Both played significant roles in Guardiola’s final season.

Set-piece coach James French, who joined from Liverpool last summer, is expected to remain at the club. Several key vacancies will now need to be filled, with Enzo Maresca anticipated to bring members of his own trusted staff to the Etihad if and when the Italian is formally confirmed as the new manager.

Guardiola used his final press conference as City manager to ask supporters to show patience with whoever takes charge next. The 55-year-old backed the club’s succession plan and urged fans to embrace the transition.

“They are stubborn, they know exactly what they want to do and they know perfectly that the opponents are so tough here and in Europe,” Guardiola said. “We don’t take trophies for granted, we won finals against Arsenal and Chelsea — I wouldn’t say they are not good teams.”

He added: “I would only like to say to the fans that every single step, don’t wait to win the Premier League or Champions League to be happy. Enjoy the process. I know all the players here will do it.”

The departures leave City facing a significant rebuild of their coaching infrastructure as they prepare for life after one of the most successful managerial reigns in English football history.