Four changes confirmed to Manchester City coaching structure | OneFootball

Manchester City have announced four changes to their Academy coaching structure in light of Ben Wilkinson’s exit to Derby County to become a first-team coach.

The restructuring became a top priority as Ben Wilkinson concluded a successful eight-year spell in Manchester to join Jon Eustace’s backroom staff at Championship side Derby County, leaving a crucial opening at the peak of City’s youth development pipeline.

The development model within the club is viewed as an integral arm of the organisation, and most recently generated elite top-flight performers like Nico O’Reilly, Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer, while simultaneously generating vital liquidity to fund senior targets like the record-breaking £116 million purchase of Elliot Anderson.

Rather than introducing outside tactical philosophies, Academy Director Thomas Krucken has chosen to reward proven internal success, ensuring the possession-oriented style of play that has dominated the English youth landscape remains intact.

Four changes in Man City’s Academy coaching structure

Now, as confirmed by Manchester City and Thomas Krucken, a new Youth Development structure has been finalised with Oliver Reiss named as the new Head Coach of the club’s Elite Development Squad (EDS).

Reiss – who joined Manchester City in July 2024 – has been selected as the successor to Ben Wilkinson, who recently left the position to become a first-team coach at Championship side Derby County.

The German coach, who spent two seasons as the Lead Coach of City’s Under-18s, follows Wilkinson who also made the move from the Under-18s to the EDS in summer 2024. 

Those movements has also seen changes further down in the age categories, with Assistant EDS coach Lauris Coggin now becoming the club’s Head Coach of the Under-18s, while U16-EDS Head of Coaching Jan-Moritz Lichte has left the Club, with Jose Castro replacing him.  

Thomas Krucken said of the changes, “Firstly, I would like to thank Ben for his fantastic service to the Academy during his eight years at the Club in different roles and for all his exemplary work with our young players.

“We’re excited about the new structure and in Oliver and Lauris we have two of the most knowledgeable and intelligent coaches in youth football. Their appointments show the pathway for coaches embedded at Manchester City and the Academy, from Enzo Maresca, right through the Club.”

He continued, “It is part of the culture we want to have here, whether it’s players or coaches, there is a real opportunity for progression.

“There’s a huge amount of playing talent in our Academy and it’s vitally important that we get the right people in place for our culture and to help their development.” 

Why Man City have made these changes

After concluding a decade-long tenure managing youth brackets at Bundesliga outfit Hertha Berlin, Oliver Reiss adapted to Manchester and steered the Under-18s through a historic 21-game consecutive winning streak to secure the Under-18 Premier League North crown in his debut year.

Reiss firmly cemented his credentials over the course of the 2025/26 campaign, engineering a tactical masterclass to hoist the prestigious FA Youth Cup by dismantling local rivals Manchester United in the final, alongside retaining their regional league title.

The internal promotion of both Reiss and Lauris Coggin highlights the structural pathway now available to coaching staff inside the City Football Academy network, echoing the trajectory of Enzo Maresca, who cut his teeth managing the EDS before stepping up to senior roles.