PEP GUARDIOLA is arguably one of the greatest football managers to have blessed the game – but assistant Juanma Lillo deserves some credit too.
Manchester City are one victory away from being crowned Premier League champions for an unprecedented FOURTH time in a row.
And while Pep will be in the spotlight, Lillo has played a massive part in the Man City boss’ succcess
But just exactly who is Lillo and how influential is he to Manchester City?
Born in Tolosa, Gipuzkoa, Lillo began coaching locally at Amaroz at just age 16 before leading Spanish side Mirandes to Segunad Division B promotion in the 1988/89 season as champions four years later.
Lillo then spent the 1991/92 campaign at Cultural Leonesa, advocating a 4-2-3-1 formation which then led to him becoming the youngest coach to attain the national coaching badge in Spain.
However, the Spanish sensation made a name for himself as a manager during his time at Salamanca – the youngest ever person to manage at the highest level.
Furthermore, in 2015, Lillo introduced himself to the world stage when he joined Jorge Sampaoli’s staff at the Chile national team.
Lillo has managed 12 different teams across the world in 20 years.
This includes stints Zaragoza, Real Sociedad, Sevilla and Vissel Kobe.
Manchester City announced Juanma Lillo as an assistant manager on June 9, 2020, replacing current Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
But in 2023, Lillo stood in for Pep Guardiola for victories over Sheffield United and Fulham as the head coach recovered from back surgery in Spain.
Pep first crossed paths with Lillo in 1996 – a few months after the embittered end to Johan Cruyff’s celebrated tenure as Barcelona head coach and the pair haven’t looked back since.
The Manchester City boss was impressed by the level and style of Lillo when he was in charge of a Real Oviedo team that lost 4-2 to Barcelona.
And he was delighted to see Lillo return to the squad after leaving City from 2022 to 2023.
Pep said: “Juanma sees things no one else in the game sees.
“He understands football on an incredible level, so he is the perfect person for me to work alongside.
“I have always been inspired by him – his knowledge of football, his intelligence and his humanity mark him out as a very special person in my life – and we have a shared ideology.
“He is a friend, a colleague and an inspiration. I am so, so happy he is back here at Manchester City.
“His preparation for matches is absolutely amazing. I know he will raise standards because he works so hard every single day.”
