Manchester City face threat of latest managerial departure after Pep Guardiola | OneFootball

Manchester City are facing a battle to retain Elite Development Squad coach Ben Wilkinson this summer, with interest in the 39-year-old emerging from League One, abroad and the Championship.

Wilkinson has been a central figure within City’s academy structure for several years, having been promoted from U18 Lead Coach to head up the Elite Development Squad in 2024 after guiding the academy side to FA Youth Cup success.

He has since worked closely with first-team figures including Pep Guardiola, having travelled with the squad to the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and overseen the integration of academy talent into senior environments.

League One clubs are understood to view Wilkinson as a credible head coach candidate, while several Championship sides have also registered interest in bringing him in as a first-team assistant – interest that reflects the growing reputation he has built within City’s coaching pathway over recent seasons.

Report: Wilkinson attracting interest from multiple divisions

As per Simon Bajkowski and Alex James of the Manchester Evening News, Manchester City face a battle to keep Ben Wilkinson this summer amid head coach interest from League One and abroad, while Championship clubs are keen on him as an assistant.

The breadth of interest underlines how highly Wilkinson is regarded outside the club, with his work developing academy graduates such as Nico O’Reilly and Ryan McAidoo having drawn praise from senior figures including chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, who recently named McAidoo among the club’s most exciting emerging talents developed under Wilkinson’s stewardship.

What is the wider context for City’s academy structure?

Wilkinson’s potential departure would represent a significant loss for City’s coaching pipeline, with the EDS head coach having been central to the pathway that has produced first-team players at an increasing rate in recent seasons.

The club has previously shown a willingness to promote from within when senior academy figures have departed, having done so when Wilkinson himself replaced Brian Barry-Murphy as EDS head coach.

Any exit this summer would likely prompt a similar reshuffle, with City’s academy department continuing to be viewed as one of the most productive in English football under the broader City Football Group structure.