Former Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala joins Ian Cathro at Saint-Étienne | OneFootball

Former Manchester City defender Eliaquim Mangala (35) recently announced his retirement from professional football. He will go straight into club management and become part of Ian Cathro’s backroom staff at Ligue 2 club AS Saint-Étienne. 

Mangala became the most expensive defender in the world when he joined Manchester City back in 2014 for €45m. He also played for Saint-Étienne prior to his recent retirement and he has now landed his first managerial role with Les Verts.

Mangala inspired by Guardiola

Speaking exclusively to Get French Football News back in October 2022, Mangala revealed that Pep Guardiola inspired him to go into management. “After having played under him, I had more of a desire to become a manager,” began the former France international. “It isn’t necessarily his playing style, because that can change, but his approach. Why do we play like that? Why make this particular movement and how are we going to do it? How will each player position themselves in relation to the other? It’s this part of it. It’s about the approach that leads things.”

“We talk about Pep in terms of what happens on the pitch, but there is also the mental side. Throughout the week, there are his speeches, the way he approaches you to keep your feet on the ground. It’s everything, really. The way I received it really opened my eyes.”

As part of Cathro’s backroom staff, Mangala will look to guide ASSE back to Ligue 1.

Read our interview with Mangala HERE

GFFN | Luke Entwistle