Kolo Toure joins Manchester City’s backroom staff on permanent basis

By Damian Spellman, PA

Former Manchester City defender Kolo Toure has been appointed to Pep Guardiola’s backroom staff on a permanent basis.

The 44-year-old performed the role of assistant first-team coach during this summer’s Club World Cup campaign in the United States, and City have confirmed he is to remain in place on a full-time basis.

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 Under-18s, and by adding him into our senior staff permanently, this will only strengthen the transition for players in our academy into the first team.

“As we already saw throughout his time with Pep Guardiola, Pep Lijnders and James French this summer, his massive personality of optimism and positivity is hugely infectious and we’re already looking forward to his work moving forward.”

Former Ivory Coast international Toure, who won the Premier League with both City and previous club Arsenal, worked under lead coach Oliver Reiss last season as they guided the club’s Under-18s to the Premier League North title and saw their side lose both the national final and the FA Youth Cup final to Aston Villa.

He had previously coached with the Ivory Coast national squad and was part of Brendan Rodgers’ staff at Celtic and Leicester before a brief spell in charge in his own right at League One Wigan.