Pep Lijnders explains decision to leave Manchester City alongside Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Pepijn Lijnders has explained his decision to leave Manchester City this summer, revealing that family considerations made remaining at the club beyond this season impossible regardless of the opportunities presented to him.

The Dutchman joined Manchester City as Pep Guardiola‘s assistant coach in June 2025 and was one of the most visible members of the Catalan’s staff in an extraordinary final season – that delivered the Carabao Cup and FA Cup double – as well as a Premier League title race that went to the final day.

Lijnders departs alongside Guardiola, goalkeeping coach Xabier Mancisidor, fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura, head of sport Manuel Estiarte and fellow assistant coach Kolo Toure – a mass exodus of backroom staff from the Etihad Stadium.

Speaking to Dutch outlet AD.nl, Lijnders revealed that his decision had nothing to do with football and everything to do with his family.

Lijnders: Without my family, I wouldn’t do a second year anyway

Lijnders did not shy away from the real reason behind his exit, putting his family’s needs above any professional opportunity the club was able to offer.

“My wife and I want a permanent place for our growing sons,” the outgoing Manchester City and former Liverpool assistant coach said, as quoted by Mail Sport.

“Moving back to England for years is no longer an option. Without my family, I wouldn’t do a second year (at Manchester City) anyway.

“The club wanted to move forward, (they) offered me a position on a new manager’s staff or the chance to be head coach at a foreign club within City Football Group.”

What does Lijnders’ departure mean for City’s new era?

Lijnders arrived at the Etihad Stadium with a reputation built across years at Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp – one of the finest coaching educations in world football – before joining Guardiola’s staff for what proved to be the Catalan’s final season.

His contributions across a campaign that produced two domestic trophies and one of the most dramatic title races in Premier League history were significant and widely recognised.

Guardiola praised the collective spirit of his backroom team in his farewell speech addressing the Manchester City faithful on Sunday, describing the environment they created together as something the next manager would be fortunate to inherit in spirit if not in personnel.

Lijnders, Mancisidor, Buenaventura, Estiarte and Toure leave behind a club that has been shaped by their work – and an incoming manager in Maresca who will build his own staff from the ground up, in the image of what he wants Manchester City to become.