Manchester City 'poach key Arne Slot ally from Liverpool's backroom team' having already lured Jurgen Klopp's former No 2 Pep Lijnders to Etihad
Manchester City are 'poaching a key member of Arne Slot 's Liverpool backroom staff', having already agreed a deal with Jurgen Klopp 's ex-assistant Pep Lijnders.
Head of opposition analysis, James French, who has worked at Anfield for 13 years, is now set to depart and join Liverpool's Premier League rivals to work closely with Pep Guardiola, according to the Athletic.
In a blow to the English champions, the Portuguese born member of the backroom team will work on set-piece coaching in addition to analysis at the Etihad.
French will be reunited with Lijnders, who he worked closely with on Merseyside during Klopp's tenure.
Liverpool now face the task of reshuffling their backroom staff, having already lost Slot's assistant John Heitinga to Ajax in the last week.
It is fascinating to see Guardiola target the staff of his former rival in Klopp as he aims to pick their brains for new tactical innovation and ideas.
After a disappointing season, one in which City failed to bring home any silverware, the Spaniard is making sweeping changes behind the scenes.
Juanma Lillo, Carlos Vicens, and Inigo Dominguez are all leaving and Guardiola is seeking fresh faces to challenge and inspire him.
Lijinders in particular could be regarded as a coup, given his loyalty to Klopp and previous admission that he would only leave Liverpool when his great friend and mentor did, to take a head coaching role.
He did just that with the top job at RB Salzburg but was sacked after just seven months at the helm.
Norwich City interviewed the 42-year-old Dutchman but ultimately the temptation to work with Guardiola appears to have superseded any loyalty to Liverpool or ambitions to hold another head coaching role.
He will be in place at City before their first game of the Club World Cup on June 18.
It is a summer of great change for Guardiola, who already splashed out on players in January and is continuing to bolster the squad with Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki set to join ahead of next season.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
21 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Allegations of rape at rowing club ‘deeply concerning' say Sport England and UK Sport
Allegations of rape and harassment at one of Britain's most prestigious rowing clubs have been described as 'deeply concerning' by Sport England and UK Sport. Both funding bodies have raised their concerns with British Rowing after the Telegraph reported there had been three separate alleged rape incidents involving male rowers within the past five years at the Leander Club, which supplied more than half of Team GB's rowers at the Paris Olympics. According to the Telegraph, the women rowers at the club had taken to wearing white ribbons and pink vests in 2024 to protest against what was described as 'the worst-kept secret in British rowing', and that several male members also joined them in protest. In a statement, Sport England, the funding body of grassroots sport in England, said it had raised the matter with British Rowing and urged the victims to go to the police. 'These are deeply concerning allegations regarding both behaviours and cultures, and our thoughts are with those who have been impacted,' it said. 'It is vital that sports clubs are safe and welcoming, and that all issues are investigated swiftly and properly. 'We encourage any individual who has experienced such behaviour to report directly to the police. Sport England has raised this matter with British Rowing, and we will continue to monitor the situation.' A similar message was conveyed by UK Sport, which funds elite sport across Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 'Our thoughts are with those affected by the allegations which have recently been reported, and we take matters of integrity and safeguarding extremely seriously,' it said. 'We encourage any member of staff or athlete on Olympic and Paralympic performance programmes to report allegations of unacceptable behaviour to Sport Integrity, the confidential reporting line. In light of these deeply concerning allegations, we are in contact with British Rowing.' In a statement, the Leander Club said it took seriously all issues relating to the safeguarding its athletes. 'We have strict procedures in place to carefully examine any formal complaints and regularly review our club disciplinary processes to ensure they are fit for purpose, treating our athletes fairly and with respect,' it added. A British Rowing spokesperson said it was not able to comment on individual safeguarding concerns and processes conducted at clubs owing to their confidential nature. 'As such there is a very limited amount that we can say when we are approached in connection with issues that fall into this category,' it added. 'What we are able to say categorically is that the safety of people taking part in our sport is the very first item of importance on our agenda. We investigate anything reported to us fully and comprehensively, as you would expect and as it is our remit to do. This would have been the case if sufficient information had been raised with us to conduct an investigation in respect of the raised allegations.'
BBC News
24 minutes ago
- BBC News
'That sums up modern football, doesn't it?'
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton on Tottenham's decision to dismiss manager Ange Postecoglou:"I'm not a Tottenham fan but, from the outside, the reason Postecoglou was employed was because they wanted to win a trophy and, if they couldn't do that, they wanted to watch an entertaining team - and I think he has ticked both boxes."I am not saying it has been brilliant this season because I understand the Premier League has been a disappointment - but he has won a major European trophy and that is a huge achievement - their first trophy since the 2008 League Cup and their first European trophy since the Uefa Cup in 1984. He has done something no other manager has done there in 41 years, since Keith Burkinshaw."To get someone in who wins them silverware, then straightaway get rid of him, that sums up modern football, doesn't it? It's absolute bonkers."You only have to look at the other side of north London, where Mikel Arteta has won one trophy in five years - the FA Cup in 2020 - and he is still in a job, and Arsenal are still building."Ange has had to sell Harry Kane in the process too. In many ways, when something like this happens to a manager then I just always think he is better off out of it."He was largely ridiculed when he came out and said he always wins a trophy in his second season, but if you looked at his track record he was right. He showed a bit of belief, then he went and did what he said he would - and Tottenham fans will remember that night for a long time."Have your say on Postecoglou's departure
BBC News
24 minutes ago
- BBC News
'We are forever connected' - Postecoglou on leaving Spurs
Outgoing Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou says being able to bring glory back to Spurs is something that will "live with me for a lifetime" and believes they have "laid foundations" for more 59-year-old was sacked on Friday, despite having led the club to their first trophy since the Europa League final victory in May came towards the end of the club's worst Premier League season, with Tottenham finishing 17th and losing 22 of their 38 league a statement released after the news, Postecoglou said: "When I reflect on my time as manager of Tottenham Hotspur, my overriding emotion is one of pride."The opportunity to lead one of England's historic football clubs and bring back the glory it deserves will live with me for a lifetime. Sharing that experience with all those who truly love this club and seeing the impact it had on them is something I will never forget."That night in Bilbao was the culmination of two years of hard work, dedication and unwavering belief in a dream."There were many challenges to overcome and plenty of noise that comes with trying to accomplish what many said was not possible. We have also laid foundations that mean this club should not have to wait 17 more years for their next success. I have enormous faith in this group of players and know there is much more potential and growth in them."I sincerely want to thank those who are the lifeblood of the club - the supporters. I know there were some difficult times but I always felt that they wanted me to succeed and that gave me all the motivation I needed to push on."It's important to acknowledge the hardworking people at Spurs who gave me encouragement on a daily basis. And finally, I want to thank those who were with me every day for the last two years. A fantastic group of young men who are now legends of this football club and the brilliant coaches who never once doubted we could do something special."We are forever connected."
