Manchester City have assembled an expert coaching staff alongside manager Pep Guardiola at Etihad Stadium. So, who features in their backroom team at one of England’s most successful football clubs?
Manager: Pep Guardiola
Guardiola agreed to replace Manuel Pellegrini as the manager of Manchester City in February 2016. He left Bayern Munich after three years to take charge at Etihad Stadium from July 2016 on an initial contract until June 2019. The Citizens have since extended the Spaniard’s contract up to June 2025.
The tactical genius has also overseen a dominant period in Manchester City’s club history with a raft of titles. Guardiola has won four Premier League titles, four EFL Cups and an FA Cup for Manchester City’s trophy history as the club’s manager. He also led them to the Champions League final in 2021.
Manchester City coaching staff
Assistant coach: Rodolfo Borrell
Guardiola added Rodolfo Borrell to Manchester City’s coaching staff after becoming their manager in July 2016. The Spaniard already worked for the Citizens for the previous two years as their Head of International Relations and Scouting. He also possesses a lengthy CV as a coach dating back to 1996.
Borrell began his coaching career with Barcelona’s academy from 1996 to 2003. He later moved up to the Catalan club’s Under-16s from 2003 to 2006 and their U18s from 2006 to 2008. A brief spell with Greek team Iraklis and back at Barcelona followed before working in various youth roles at Liverpool.
Assistant coach: Carlos Vicens
Carlos Vicens has been in Guardiola’s coaching staff at Manchester City as one of his assistants since July 2021. The Spaniard stepped up from his previous role as the manager of the Citizens’ U18 team after one year. He was previously Gareth Taylor’s assistant with the club’s U18 squad from July 2018.
The Citizens initially hired Vicens in August 2017 to work as a coach for Manchester City’s academy. He had worked in youth coaching with various clubs since 2010, including as the director of youth at Santanyi from 2013 to 2016 and Llosetense from 2015 to 2017. He also won the 2020 FA Youth Cup.
Assistant coach: Enzo Maresca
Guardiola and Manchester City refreshed his coaching staff in July 2022 with Enzo Maresca returning to Etihad Stadium. The Italian was the head coach of the club’s U21s during the 2020/21 season and won the Premier League 2 title. But he became the manager of Parma from May to November 2021.
Maresca had a wealth of experience as an assistant coach before taking charge of Manchester City’s U21s. He was Fulvio Fiorin’s No2 at Ascoli and worked alongside Vincenzo Montella at Sevilla. He also joined Pellegrini with West Ham United as the Chilean’s assistant from July 2018 to December 2019.
Goalkeeping coach: Xabier Mancisidor
Xabier Mancisidor has been Manchester City’s goalkeeping coach since July 2013 after joining under Pellegri. The Chilean brought the Spaniard with him to Etihad Stadium having worked together with Malaga from January 2011. He also worked with Pellegrini at Real Madrid between 2009 and 2010.
Goalkeeping coach: Richard Wright
Guardiola added Richard Wright to the goalkeeper coaches among Manchester City’s backroom staff in July 2018. The Spaniard promoted the Ipswich native to the position following two years with their academy. Wright accepted a backroom role with the Citizens after retiring from playing in July 2016.
The Englishman spent the final four years of his career providing depth at Etihad Stadium but never made an appearance. Wright joined Manchester City following a third spell with his hometown side, Ipswich Town. He also enjoyed spells at Arsenal, Everton, West Ham and Sheffield United as a player.
Chief analyst: Harry Dunn
Manchester City promoted Harry Dunn to the role of chief analyst in October 2022 after eight years as a match analyst. He joined the Citizens after three years as Scunthorpe United’s chief analyst and also previously worked for Darlington. The Englishman now oversees a small team at Etihad Stadium.
Video Analyst: Carles Planchart
Dunn works with the other analysts in Manchester City’s coaching staff including video analyst Carles Planchart and match analyst Ryan DeFreitas. Planchart joined the Citizens from Bayern Munich when Guardiola changed clubs in 2016. He also worked with the Spaniard at Barcelona from 2008 to 2012.
Match analyst: Ryan DeFreitas
De Freitas joined Manchester City’s coaching staff in September 2022 after six years in various roles at Leicester City. He had initially joined the Foxes as their assistant youth manager in July 2016. He later became the East Midlands outfit’s U18 video analyst and then U21 match analyst in the following years.
Club doctor: Edu Mauri
Manchester City appointed Edu Mauri as their club doctor in September 2016. He was previously the head of medical at Espanyol from 1997 to 2008, the Qatar national team from 2008 to 2012 and with KAS Eupen from 2012 to 2016. The Spaniard also played with Espanyol from 1982 through until 1988.
Alongside club doctor Mauri in the medical department at Manchester City are their physiotherapist Federico Genovesi, sports scientist Francesc Cos and masseur Mark Sertori. While James Baldwin has been the club’s head of physiotherapy since February 2019 and has worked with the club since 2009.