Kolo Toure, a former Manchester City defender, has officially joined Pep Guardiola's first-team coaching staff. The Sky Blues confirmed the permanent appointment of the 44-year-old Ivorian, who had been serving as assistant coach during the Club World Cup this summer.

Toure's journey back to Manchester City marks a significant step in his coaching career. After retiring from professional football, he quickly transitioned into coaching roles, gaining experience with the Ivory Coast national team, Celtic, and Leicester City as part of Brendan Rodgers' staff. He also had a brief stint as manager of Wigan Athletic. Before his recent promotion, Toure served as the Assistant Lead Coach with Manchester City's Under-18s, working alongside Lead Coach Oliver Reiss. Together, they guided the team to the Premier League Under-18 North title and reached both the national final and the FA Youth Cup final, where they were narrowly defeated by Aston Villa.

Manchester City's Director of Football, Hugo Viana, expressed his delight at Toure's permanent appointment, emphasizing the valuable experience and deep connection he brings to the club. Viana also highlighted Toure's positive impact on the Under-18s and how his promotion will strengthen the transition of academy players into the first team. He further added that Toure's "massive personality of optimism and positivity is hugely infectious".

Toure is part of a revamped coaching team under Pep Guardiola. Pepijn Lijnders, formerly Jurgen Klopp's assistant at Liverpool, has also joined as an assistant coach, while James French, also from Liverpool, has been appointed as a set-piece specialist. These appointments follow the departures of Juanma Lillo, Inigo Dominguez, and Carlos Vicens. Lijnders arrives with experience from PSV Eindhoven, FC Porto and RB Salzburg. French had been with Liverpool since 2012.

Manchester City's summer has been marked by considerable changes, including new signings and a refreshed coaching staff. The club has welcomed Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Tijjani Reijnders and Marcus Bettinelli. The addition of Kolo Toure, along with Pepijn Lijnders and James French, signifies a strategic move to inject new perspectives and expertise into the team.

Kolo Toure's return to Manchester City has been met with enthusiasm, with many highlighting his leadership qualities, wealth of experience, and ability to nurture young talent. His contributions to the club, both as a player and now as a coach, are expected to play a significant role in Manchester City's future success.