Former Manchester City Coach Appointed Manager of Lyon Following Pep Guardiola Recommendation

Former Manchester City Coach Appointed Manager of Lyon Following Pep Guardiola Recommendation Manchester City supporters who keep an eye on the club’s backroom staff will remember one of Pep Guardiola’s most trusted assistants during his Etihad Stadium reign - set-piece specialist Carlos Vicens. The Spanish coach, who built a strong reputation during his eight-year tenure in East Manchester, has now officially taken the reins at a major Ligue 1 club following a successful stint in Portugal. After leaving Manchester City in May 2025 to pursue senior management, Vicens enjoyed an impressive debut campaign at SC Braga, leading them to a fourth-place finish in the Primeira Liga, the Taça da Liga final, and semi-finals of the Europa League across 76 matches. Now, the 43-year-old steps into one of French football's most high-profile dugouts. Carlos Vicens has been formally unveiled by Lyon , where he has signed an 18-month contract running until June 2028 after Paulo Fonseca unexpectedly departed to take charge of Sporting CP. The appointment comes with approval from his former colleague and legendary Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola, who provided a glowing personal reference to the French club's board. Speaking during the official presentation of their new manager, and as reported by Get French Football News, Lyon's general director Michael Gerlinger revealed that he spoke directly with the legendary former City boss before finalising the deal. Pep Guardiola spoke passionately about Carlos Vicens' tactical preparation, set-piece expertise, and personal character, strongly encouraging Lyon to talk to his former assistant from the Etihad Stadium. Taking charge of a Lyon side currently sitting fifth in Ligue 1 and trailing leaders Paris Saint-Germain by six points, Carlos Vicens faces an immediate test when domestic football resumes against second-place Lille following the international break. Vicens' progression to managing a European giant represents another milestone for the coaching development pathway established by Manchester City . Having initially moved into English football in July 2017 as an under-12s assistant, he steadily rose through the club’s Academy ranks before taking charge of the under-18s in August 2020. During his single campaign leading the under-18 side, Carlos Vicens guided Manchester City 's academy stars to victory in the FA Youth Cup, helping nurture talent like Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, Morgan Rogers, Oscar Bobb, and James McAtee. That impressive campaign earned him a promotion onto Pep Guardiola's senior coaching staff in July 2021, where he played a vital role in securing a historic treble just under two years later. Carlos Vicens will now look to translate the high standards and tactical principles he learned at the City Football Academy, as well as his own ideas implemented at Braga, into sustained success in Ligue 1.