Manchester City unveil double coaching staff signings with Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool connections | OneFootball

A statement issued by Manchester City has confirmed two new additions to their coaching staff structure under Pep Guardiola ahead of the new season.

Confirmation of the fresh arrivals into the Etihad Stadium’s first-team coaching structure comes after a triple exit was announced by Manchester City following the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign.

Assistant manager Juanma Lillo and technical coach Inigo Dominguez both vacated their positions within the club upon the expiry of their respective contracts, with the former also seeking a return to his home of Spain.

There was also a departure for set-piece coach Carlos Vicens, despite Manchester City’s best efforts to renew and extend his agreement with the club, as he opted to take on the role of head coach at SC Braga in Portugal.

With the FIFA Club World Cup looming and preparations for the 2025/26 campaign well underway, Manchester City have moved swiftly to ensure that the necessary replacements have come through the door for the summer’s football.

Now, a statement from Manchester City issued on Tuesday morning confirmed, “Manchester City are delighted to confirm two key appointments to Pep Guardiola’s first team coaching set-up.

“Pepijn Lijnders has been appointed as assistant coach while James French joins as set-piece coach.”

The statement from the club also included formal comment and reaction from Director of Football Hugo Viana, who said, “We are all delighted that Pepijn and James have joined our senior coaching set-up.

“Pepijn and James have each amassed huge experience working in their individual roles over the past few years. Their talent, application, work ethic and all-round commitment are totally aligned with the values that underpin how Pep wants football to be played.

“And I have no doubt at all that both will prove to be very important assets for Pep and his coaching team as we prepare for the Club World Cup and then the 2025/26 season.”

Pep Lijnders first made the move to English football back in 2014 by joining Liverpool initially as part of Brendan Rodgers’ backroom staff, before going on to play an integral role in Jurgen Klopp’s hugely successful time at Anfield.

A brief step into senior management would then be undertaken via a move to Dutch side NEC in 2018, before returning to Merseyside to work under Klopp until the German’s departure in 2024, and then spending six months in charge of RB Salzburg.

As for James French, he also moves on from Liverpool and has been confirmed to take on the position of set-piece coach having stood in the role of first-team opposition analyst at Anfield for Brendan Rodgers, Jurgen Klopp, and Arne Slot.

French first started his career within the game by working in roles at Swansea City and then the Football Association of Wales, before going on to join Liverpool’s backroom staff structure back in 2012.