Who is Juanma Lillo, as the coach rejoins Man City as Pep Guardiola’s No 2 after a year away from the club

Juanma Lillo has re-joined Manchester City‘s coaching staff after Enzo Maresca left the Premier League club to join Leicester City.

Lillo, 57, left the Etihad Stadium in June 2022 to take up the role of Head Coach at Al-Sadd of the Qatar Stars League.

The Spaniard worked for the Premier League giants between 2020 and 2022, helping the club win two Premier League titles and a Carabao Cup.

City will be chasing their fourth league title in a row this season and will be looking to successfully retain the Champions League. 

Mail Sport breaks down everything you need to know on Juanma Lillo.

Lillo (left) previously worked with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City back in 2020

Who is Juanma Lillo and who has he managed?

Born in Tolosa, Spain, Lillo began his managerial career for local side Amaroz KE at the age of 16. 

After four years with the club, the 57-year-old took charge of Tolosa. Following a three year spell with the side, Lillo moved to Mirandes. 

He joined the Spanish side in 1988 and would help guide the club to the Segunda Division B in his first season.

At the age of 29, he became the youngest manager to coach in the Spanish top division after guiding Salamanca to La Liga in 1994.

Lillo’s biggest test came when he took over the reins at Real Zaragoza in 2000. 

In the season before taking over, the Spanish side had qualified for the UEFA Cup after finishing fourth in La Liga. Lillo was tasked with progressing the side in the European competition, but was sacked after three months in charge due to a run of poor results. 

The Spaniard took a three year break following the sacking before joining Ciudad Murcia. From 2003 to 2005, Lillo spent the years taking charge of Murcia and Terrassa in the Segunda Division.

Lillo began his managerial career for local side Amaroz KE at the age of 16

In 2005, the 57-year-old joined Dorados Sinaloa in Mexico, but would leave midway through the season. 

While Lillo has spent most of his career as a manager, the Spaniard was an assistant coach for Chile in 2015 and would then spend a year with Sevilla in 2016. 

That year, Sevilla finished fourth in La Liga and made the Round of 16 of the Champions League.

Lillo joined the City set up in 2020 when he replaced Mikel Arteta as the club’s assistant manager. In his first season, City went on to win the Premier League, finishing twelve points above rivals United. They would also win the Carabao Cup – defeating Tottenham 1-0 in the final.

His second season in Manchester saw the club win the league again and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. He returned to managerial duties with Al Sadd in 2022, replacing Javi Gracia. 

The Qatari side would finish third in the league, seven points behind champions Al-Duhail. 

Lillo (right) was part of the City set-up that won the Premier League and Carabao Cup in 2021

What has been said on his appointment?

Following his arrival, Guardiola gave his thoughts on the appointment, with the Spaniard already familiar with what he will bring to the club.

‘Juanma sees things no one else in the game sees. He understands football on an incredible level, so he is the perfect person for me to work alongside,’ Guardiola told Manchester City’s official website.

‘I have always been inspired by him – his knowledge of football, his intelligence and his humanity mark him out as a very special person in my life – and we have a shared ideology.

‘He is a friend, a colleague and an inspiration. I am so, so happy he is back here at Manchester City.

‘His preparation for matches is absolutely amazing. I know he will raise standards because he works so hard every single day.’

Pep Guardiola revealed that Lillo ‘understands football on an incredible level’ and is the ‘perfect person’ to work alongside