Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola will miss his aspect’s subsequent two matches after present process “emergency” again surgical procedure on Tuesday.
Metropolis mentioned the operation was a “success” however his convalescence in Barcelona means assistant Juanma Lillo will take cost for his or her video games in opposition to Sheffield United on Sunday and Fulham on September 2.
Right here, the PA information company takes a more in-depth take a look at the 57-year-old Spaniard.
Began his teaching profession early
Whereas Lillo has no taking part in expertise to attract upon, his teaching profession began when he was solely 16 years previous after becoming a member of his native aspect Amaroz KE within the Basque area of northern Spain. He remained there for 4 years earlier than taking cost of hometown membership Tolosa CF within the Spanish fourth tier.
Referred to as as much as the massive leagues
After a number of years within the decrease reaches of the Spanish pyramid, Lillo obtained his huge break at Salamanca in 1992, guiding them from the third division all the best way to LaLiga in three years. In consequence he turned the Spanish top-flight’s youngest-ever coach on the time, aged simply 29. He was sacked with Salamanca languishing within the relegation zone, prompting an outcry amongst followers. The membership had been unable to keep away from a right away return to the Segunda Division however Lillo’s profile was raised considerably.
Spreading his wings
After almost two-and-a-half many years of solely working in his native Spain, Lillo headed for Mexican aspect Dorados de Sinaloa within the mid-2000s. One of many gamers beneath his command was Guardiola, who was on the again finish of his glittering taking part in profession. Lillo has had the travelling bug ever since, having taken cost of sides in Colombia, Japan, China and Qatar, whereas he was understudy to Jorge Sampaoli with the Chile nationwide group and is now into his second stint beneath Guardiola at Metropolis.
Kindred spirits with Guardiola
Juanma Lillo returns to Metropolis as a part of @PepTeam’s backroom workers
— Manchester Metropolis (@ManCity) August 4, 2023
Lillo first moved to the Etihad Stadium in the summertime of 2020, changing the outgoing Mikel Arteta, after guiding Qingdao Huanghai to promotion to the top-tier Chinese language Tremendous League. He left forward of Metropolis’s treble-winning marketing campaign final season to take up a head coach function with Al Sadd however got here again to Metropolis earlier this month. Director of soccer Txiki Begiristain mentioned: “His imaginative and prescient is completely aligned with Pep’s. They each love this recreation and need their groups to supply high-quality, attacking soccer.”
Particulars, particulars, particulars
How extremely Lillo is valued got here to mild earlier than he was given a brief promotion by Metropolis, with Guardiola anticipated to be again within the dugout in the midst of subsequent month following the worldwide break. Guardiola was effusive in his reward when Lillo returned to the north-west, drawing consideration to his assiduous nature, saying: “Juanma sees issues no-one else within the recreation sees. He understands soccer on an unbelievable degree, so he’s the proper individual for me to work alongside. His preparation for matches is completely superb. I do know he’ll increase requirements as a result of he works so arduous each single day.”