Manchester City Coach Appointed Manager of Lyon officially
At the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City supporters recall set‑piece specialist Carlos Vicens, one of Pep Guardiola’s most trusted assistants. Lyon Following Pep Guardiola Recommendation, the Spanish coach has officially taken the reins of the Ligue 1 club after eight years in East Manchester.
Success in Portugal
He left Manchester City in May 2025 to pursue senior management and then led SC Braga to a fourth‑place Primeira Liga finish, a Taça da Liga final and a Europa League semi‑final across 76 matches. The 43‑year‑old now steps into one of French football’s most high‑profile dugouts.
Lyon appointment and future plans
Lyon unveiled Carlos Vicens and announced an 18‑month contract running to June 2028 after Paulo Fonseca departed for Sporting CP. Pep Guardiola gave a glowing personal reference to the French board, endorsing his former colleague. Lyon general director Michael Gerlinger said he spoke directly with the legendary former City boss before finalising the deal. Guardiola praised Vicens’s tactical preparation, set‑piece expertise and character, urging Lyon to recruit his former Etihad assistant.
Lyon sit fifth in Ligue 1, six points behind leaders Paris Saint‑Germain, and Vicens’s first test will be against second‑place Lille after the international break. His progression to managing a European giant marks another milestone for the coaching pathway created by Manchester City.
Vicens joined English football in July 2017 as an under‑12s assistant, rose through the Academy and took charge of the under‑18s in August 2020. During that season he guided the under‑18s to an FA Youth Cup triumph, developing talents such as Cole Palmer, Liam Delap, Morgan Rogers, Oscar Bobb and James McAtee.
His success earned a promotion to Pep Guardiola’s senior coaching staff in July 2021, where he helped secure a historic treble less than two years later. Vicens now aims to translate the high standards and tactical principles learned at the City Football Academy and Braga into sustained Ligue 1 success.