Manchester City to oversee major shake-up of coaching structure | OneFootball

A significant shake-up of the lead coaching positions across Manchester City’s academy system is set to take place this summer, according to new reports.

New manager Enzo Maresca emphasised this long-term strategy during his first official club interview on Monday, pointing towards a need to be “brave” when integrating young talents into the first-team framework.

To support this, the club is now carefully managing a transition to minimise disruption while preserving the methodology that has dominated the English youth landscape for Manchester City in recent years.

City’s academy pathway has consistently functioned as a multi-million-pound production line, generating stars like Rico Lewis, Nico O’Reilly, Cole Palmer, and Morgan Rogers, while possibly funding marquee additions like the £116 million purchase of Elliot Anderson.

As the next generation of prospects prepare for the 2026/27 campaign, sporting director Hugo Viana’s commitment to promoting talent is designed to insulate the club’s development models from any potential systemic shock as a result of coaching alterations.

Man City make major changes to Academy coaching set-up

According to MailSport’s Jack Gaughan, Manchester City’s Elite Development Squad coach Ben Wilkinson is set to join Derby County as an assistant after eight years working within the club’s youth structure and working with the likes of Rico Lewis and Nico O’Reilly.

As such, City will promote their current Under-18s manager Oliver Reiss into the lead coaching role within the EDS after a league and FA Youth Cup double during the 2025/26 campaign.

Reiss’ move will then reportedly see that Lauris Coggin become the new Manchester City Under 18s coach, while the Academy’s Head of coaching Jan-Moritz Lichte has opted to become the new assistant manager at Borussia Monchengladbach.

Academy structure aims to bolster Maresca vision

The promotion of Oliver Reiss into the Elite Development Squad (EDS) hot seat represents a thoroughly deserved reward for his exceptional work within the Under-18 structure over the past two seasons.

The German tactician, who arrived from Hertha Berlin to inherit Wilkinson’s former role, has seamlessly implemented a dominant, possession-heavy tactical system that perfectly mirrors the first-team’s core philosophy.

By placing Reiss in charge of the Under-21 side, Viana and Academy director Thomas Krücken have guaranteed a seamless transition for younger names moving up, ensuring they continue developing the exact technical traits needed to capture Maresca’s attention.

Simultaneously, Jan-Moritz Lichte’s departure to join Borussia Mönchengladbach creates a significant senior vacancy that Krücken must address swiftly to maintain the club’s high-level standards of coaching.