Five Guardiola backroom staff leave Man City as Maresca appointment nears

Manchester City have confirmed that five members of Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff are leaving the club following the Spaniard’s departure after a decade in charge at the Etihad Stadium. Enzo Maresca is expected to be appointed as the new manager and will bring in his own backroom team.

Pep Lijnders, Kolo Toure, goalkeeping coach Xabi Mancisidor, fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura, and long-time Guardiola confidant Manel Estiarte have all departed.

Lijnders joined City last summer after two spells at Liverpool, where he served as Jürgen Klopp’s assistant during the club’s Champions League and Premier League title wins. The Dutchman had taken charge of Red Bull Salzburg following Klopp’s exit from Anfield but left after an unsuccessful stint. He was reportedly offered the opportunity to remain within the City Football Group but chose to move on. During his time at City, Lijnders was considered a significant influence on the team’s more transitional style of play this season.

Toure, a former Arsenal defender and ex-Wigan Athletic manager, was also added to Guardiola’s staff last summer, initially for the Club World Cup. Mancisidor had a longer association with the club, having spent 13 years at City after joining when Manuel Pellegrini was appointed manager — predating Guardiola’s arrival entirely.

Buenaventura and Estiarte represent the longest-serving members of Guardiola’s inner circle. Buenaventura has worked alongside the manager at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and City, while Estiarte — a former world-class water polo player — has been a constant presence throughout Guardiola’s entire managerial career.

Guardiola stood down at the end of the season after ten years at the Etihad, a tenure that brought six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, and the club’s first Champions League trophy in 2023. Maresca, who led Leicester City to the Championship title last season before taking charge of Chelsea, is now expected to take the reins.