Kolo Touré has spoken with palpable enthusiasm about his appointment as an assistant coach to Pep Guardiola at Manchester City, describing it as a long-awaited milestone in his professional journey.
The former Ivory Coast international, who joined City’s first-team coaching staff permanently in July 2025, has said that working beside Guardiola isn’t just an honour—it’s the one missing piece in a career already rich in achievements.
Touré first came into the club’s fold as part of the Elite Development Squad, overseeing the progress of younger talents, before being promoted to assist alongside Guardiola and other first-team coaches.
City director of football Hugo Viana said of the move: “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.”
For Touré personally, the opportunity carries deep meaning. He reflected publicly that “playing under Pep Guardiola was the one thing missing in my career — he’s a top coach and an extraordinary person.” He didn’t mince words about his respect for Guardiola’s character and coaching philosophy: “He’s not just a top coach but also a fantastic person. He tells you what he thinks and always supports you.” Touré added, “I could talk about Guardiola for hours because he’s truly an extraordinary man. I hope to keep working with him for a long time.”
In an interview prior to his first-team promotion, Touré described Guardiola as “the biggest inspiration,” citing not only the tactical precision with which the manager readies his teams, but also his ability to motivate them consistently to perform at the highest level every week.
“The way he sets his team up tactically, the details he is giving to his players, but at the same time, the motivation to keep them performing game after game at the highest level is incredible. That is the main thing for me. He is demanding of them and to be able to repeat that.”
Touré also emphasized that it’s not enough simply to win; maintaining standards matters as much. He noted that as players depart and new ones arrive, the standard must be upheld. The coach must adapt while preserving identity. “Pep has fantastic tools to work with, fantastic players but he makes players better,” Touré said. “He pushes them to extra. He pushes them to reach the top level, each of them. When he sees you and he knows you can reach that level, he will push you.”
The pathway to this role has been built on a combination of Touré’s longstanding playing pedigree and his growing coaching experience. After retiring from playing, he served roles that included working with the Ivory Coast under-23s, being part of coaching teams at Celtic and Leicester, and managing Wigan Athletic.
His history with Manchester City as a player, where he won trophies and experienced both highs and lows, gives him an intimate understanding of the club’s culture and expectations. That, combined with respect for Guardiola, has made the reunion—this time as coach—a source of both pride and ambition. In his own words: “Playing under Pep Guardiola was the one thing missing in my career.”