Manchester City recruit Newcastle backroom staff member “integral” to Eddie Howe’s success | OneFootball

Premier League champions Manchester City have secured the services of Newcastle United first-team coaching analyst Mark Leyland, according to reports.

Leyland has had a number of roles across various Premier League clubs, with his most recent post prior to his ongoing position at Newcastle United coming under Jurgen Klopp at Manchester City’s rivals Liverpool.

Mark Leyland spent a total of eight-and-a-half years at Anfield, after spending time with both Burnley and Everton in performance analyst roles.

Joining Newcastle United in December 2021, and playing an “integral” role under Eddie Howe in the months that followed, Mark Leyland is now set to take on yet another challenge at the very top of the professional game, according to a new report.

According to the information of Matt Hughes of the Mail, Manchester City have successfully secured the services of Newcastle United’s first-team coaching analyst Mark Leyland after just 14 months at the club.

The acquisition has been described as a ‘significant blow’ to Eddie Howe and his management team at St. James’ Park, with the Newcastle manager having previously made his admiration for the work of Leyland public during a press conference last year.

Howe said of Leyland prior to their clash against Liverpool in April 2022, as relayed by Training Ground Guru, “Like all my staff, he (Mark Leyland) has had a big impact He’s played a huge part in what we’ve done this season.”

Howe continued, “He’s one of a number of people behind the scenes that have put a tireless amount of work in to try and improve the team. We love him to bits and he’s been an integral part of our team.”

The Mail further report that Mark Leyland is not due to leave Newcastle until the end of the ongoing season, when he will then take up a new ‘international position’ working across all of the City Football Group clubs.

Manchester City have made a number of changes to their own first-team backroom staff over the course of Pep Guardiola’s tenure as first-team head coach, with the most high-profile change being Mikel Arteta’s switch from assistant coach to manager of current Premier League title challengers Arsenal.

Rodolfo Borrell has also seen consecutive promotions within Manchester City’s management team, taking up the role of assistant manager from Juanma Lillo, after he departed the club following the end of last season.

Following a stint in Italy, Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad manager Enzo Maresca also made a return to the Etihad Stadium last summer, moving into Pep Guardiola’s extensive first-team coaching group.