Latest news with #JamesFrench
The Independent
4 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Man City confirm appointment of former Liverpool assistant coach Pep Lijnders
Manchester City have appointed long-time Jurgen Klopp ally Pep Lijnders into their backrooom staff as two former Liverpool coaches join forces with Pep Guardiola. Lijnders was instrumental in Klopp's Liverpool setup that went toe-to-toe with Guardiola between 2018 and 2022, helping guide the Reds to their first Premier League title in 30 years in 2020 as well as a Champions League in 2019. But after a short-lived stint in management at RB Salzburg, Lijnders has returned to the Premier League, only at the team he formerly considered a rival. He is joined by opposition analyst James French, who has been directly poached from Liverpool. At the close of the 2024/25 season, City underwent a notable backroom reshuffle. Long-serving assistants Juan Manuel Lillo, Inigo Dominguez, and set piece coach Carlos Vicens departed, leaving some prominent gaps in Guardiola's managerial setup. Lijnders acts to fill one of those voids, arriving at the Etihad with a decorated resume and extensive elite-level coaching experience. It's the first assistant manager role he has taken up since departing Liverpool alongside Jurgen Klopp in 2024. The Dutchman's involvement in elite title-winning environments will align seamlessly with City's possession-based style and ambition for glory as they seek to rebuild following an underwhelming trophyless campaign. Meanwhile, James French moves from Merseyside to become a similarly integral member of City's coaching setup, also armed with vast Premier League experience. The 37-year-old began his career at Swansea before working for the Welsh FA. Now, he arrives directly from Liverpool's backroom staff, where he spent over a decade. French's dedicated oversight will look to ensure that marginal gains are optimised to give City a tactical edge, something they apparently lacked as they drifted away from the title race last term. Both coaches will be bled into Guardiola's setup in time for the Club World Cup, which starts on June 14.
Belfast Telegraph
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool disciple ready to boost Pep Guardiola's Manchester City
The Dutchman arrives at the Etihad Stadium alongside a new set-piece coach in James French, who has spent the last 13 years at Liverpool. The appointments come following the departures of three members of Guardiola's backroom staff in Juanma Lillo, Inigo Dominguez and Carlos Vicens at the end of the 2024-25 season. Lijnders, who has also coached at PSV Eindhoven, Porto and NEC Nijmegen, worked under Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp at Anfield. He left Liverpool along with Klopp in the summer of 2024 and took up the post of manager at Red Bull Salzburg but was sacked last December. French has worked as an opposition analyst at the Merseyside club, having previously held positions at Swansea and the Football Association of Wales. City director of football Hugo Viana said: '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.'
BBC News
9 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
From 'finish with Jurgen' to Man City and Guardiola
Pepijn Lijnders once called Jurgen Klopp his "proper football brother," but now he has joined one of his biggest rivals in Pep City have confirmed Lijnders will become a part of Guardiola's coaching staff, along with former Liverpool opposition analyst James 42-year-old was Klopp's assistant when Liverpool won the Premier League and Champions League, standing down from the role when the German left the club in last year, Lijnders told the Liverpool club website: "I always said I will finish with Jurgen; the moment I will not assist anyone else, that's the moment I will go and I will manage. That was always the case."I owe this club everything. They don't owe me anything, to be honest. It's 10 years full of dedication. So when we [me and Jurgen] spoke, it was clear for me, I go and manage, and we end this project together," he has had two spells as a manager - briefly leaving Liverpool in 2018 to manage NEC in the Netherlands, before a spell with Red Bull Salzburg at the beginning of last season, with both culminating in his a club since December, the Dutchman has taken the step back from being a manager and once again will be an assistant.
Straits Times
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Man City hire two former Liverpool coaches, including Jurgen Klopp's ex-assistant Pep Lijnders
Pepijn Lijnders (left) and James French are now part of Pep Guardiola's backroom staff. PHOTO: MANCHESTER CITY/FACEBOOK LONDON – Manchester City confirmed the appointment of two former Liverpool coaches to Pep Guardiola's backroom staff, including Jurgen Klopp's ex-assistant Pepijn Lijnders, on June 10. The Dutchman arrives at the Etihad Stadium alongside a new set-piece coach, James French, who has spent the past 13 years at Anfield. The appointments follow the departures of three members of Guardiola's backroom staff. Lijnders, 42, worked under Brendan Rodgers and Klopp at Liverpool. He left the club along with Klopp at the end of the 2023-24 season and took up the post of head coach at Red Bull Salzburg but was sacked in December. City director of football Hugo Viana said: '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.' Guardiola's team endured a disappointing 2024-25 campaign, finishing third in the Premier League and failing to win a trophy for the first time in eight years and have wasted little time in beefing up their squad. They announced the signing of Wolverhampton Wanderers' Algerian left-back Rayan Ait Nouri on June 9, with AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reinjders and Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki set to follow suit ahead of the Club World Cup. City will travel to the expanded continental competition in the United States as defending champions after winning the previous edition under its previous guise in Saudi Arabia two years ago. The month-long tournament starts on June 14, with City opening their campaign against Moroccan club Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia four days later. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
BBC News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Man City hire ex-Liverpool duo Lijnders and French
Manchester City have hired former Liverpool assistant coach Pepijn Lijnders and set-piece coach James duo both worked at Anfield under Jurgen Klopp during a successful period on Merseyside but have now joined Pep Guardiola's backroom had a brief spell away from Liverpool as manager of Dutch side NEC at the start of 2018, before returning that left Liverpool again at the end of the 2023-24 season and was appointed manager of Red Bull Salzburg 12 months the 42-year-old was sacked in December after just 29 matches in charge of the Austrian club following a slow start to the started his career working in roles at Swansea and then the Welsh FA, before joining Liverpool in worked as a first team opposition analyst at Anfield, French will join City as a set-piece on the appointments, City's director of football Hugo Viana said: "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."Both begin their roles immediately and will travel to the US for the upcoming Club World Cup.
