Toure joins Man City first-team staff

Kolo Toure has permanently joined Pep Guardiola’s first-team staff at Manchester City after a successful secondment during the FIFA Club World Cup this summer. 

The 44-year-old Ivorian was Assistant to Under-18s Lead Oliver Reiss last season, helping the team reach the national final of the Premier League U18s, where they lost to Aston Villa.

Toure has previously been Assistant to Brendan Rodgers at Celtic and Leicester City and had a brief spell as Head Coach of Wigan Athletic.

City Director of Football Hugo Viana said: “We’re delighted to permanently add Kolo to our first-team coaching staff. Not only does he bring his immensely precious experience at football’s elite level, but he also has a deep connection with Manchester City and a deep knowledge of the club.

“We’ve also been hugely impressed with his work and success with our U18s, and by adding him into our senior staff permanently, this will only strengthen the transition for players in our Academy into the first team.

“His massive personality of optimism and positivity is hugely infectious and we’re already looking forward to his work moving forward.”

Guardiola has now completed his first-team staff for the coming season, with Pep Lijnders and James French having already joined as Assistants. 

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