Manchester City have officially appointed former defender Kolo Toure as an assistant coach to Pep Guardiola, marking the return of the ex-City and Arsenal star to the Etihad in a new coaching capacity.
The 44-year-old re-joins the club after a successful trial period during the Club World Cup and a productive spell with Manchester City’s U18 team. Toure’s promotion underscores his growing reputation in the coaching world and highlights City’s emphasis on developing talent from within.
Toure enjoyed a distinguished playing career, amassing 353 Premier League appearances and earning a reputation as one of the most reliable defenders of his era. He played a pivotal role in Arsenal’s historic unbeaten “Invincibles” season in 2003–04 and later helped Manchester City secure their first Premier League title in 2011–12. His winning pedigree and deep knowledge of English football make him a valuable addition to Guardiola’s backroom staff.
Beyond his accomplishments on the pitch, Toure brings a familiarity with the club’s culture and a strong connection to Manchester City’s evolution over the past two decades. His experience with the youth side last season, working under Oliver Reiss, demonstrated his ability to mentor and guide young players, reinforcing City’s long-term commitment to promoting talent through their academy.
Toure’s coaching journey began in 2017, starting as a technical staff member at Celtic before following Brendan Rodgers to Leicester City, where he served as a first-team coach. His managerial experience, albeit brief, included a stint with Wigan Athletic in the Championship from November 2022 to January 2023. Although the period was challenging, it provided valuable insights that have shaped his approach to coaching.
His return to Manchester City is as much a symbolic homecoming as it is a strategic appointment. Working alongside assistant coach Pep Lijnders, goalkeeping coaches Richard Wright and Xabier Mancisidor, and individual development specialist James French, Toure joins a robust technical team that blends elite experience with developmental focus.
This move reflects Guardiola’s ongoing strategy to build a diverse and knowledgeable coaching team capable of sustaining the club’s success while also nurturing the next generation of talent. Toure’s presence not only enhances the technical expertise available to the squad but also serves as inspiration for young players aspiring to follow in his footsteps.
His appointment is a nod to City’s rich past and a bold step toward an ambitious future, as the club continues to evolve both on and off the pitch.
