Manchester City have confirmed the appointment of two key additions to Pep Guardiola’s first team coaching set-up.
Pepijn Lijnders has been appointed as assistant coach while James French joins as set-piece coach.
Lijnders moves to the Etihad Stadium equipped with broad elite stage coaching experience both in the Premier League as well as on the continent.
The Dutch native, 42 years of age, kicked off his coaching career in 2002, working firstly as a member of PSV Eindhoven’s youth team before then taking up a similar role with FC Porto in Portugal.
Afterwards, Lijnders made the move to England, joining Liverpool in 2014 initially as a member of Brendan Rodgers’ backroom staff before then working under German manager, Jurgen Klopp, following the German’s appointment as Anfield head coach in 2015.
Following a period away from Anfield as manager of Dutch side NEC at the start of 2018, Lijnders made his way back to Merseyside in the summer of that year.
Lijnders parted ways with Liverpool along with Klopp in the summer of 2024 and later took charge as manager of RB Salzburg, going on to spend six months in charge of the Austrian side.
French, meanwhile, is moving to Manchester City from Liverpool in the key role of set-piece coach also equipped with comprehensive Premier League experience.
French became a part of Liverpool’s backroom team in 2012 after having kicked off his career working in roles at Swansea and then the Football Associatiom (FA) of Wales.
He went ahead to spend more than ten (10) years at Anfield, working as first team opposition analyst with the Merseyside club.
According to the club’s official website, making his statement following the appointments, Hugo Viana, Directly of Football, Manchester City, said: “We are all delighted that Pepijn and James have joined our senior coaching set-up.
“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.
“And I have no doubt at all that both will prove to be very important assets for Pep and his coaching team as we prepare for the Club World Cup and then the 2025/26 season.”
