Patrick Vieira has been appointed the new Head of Manchester City s Elite Development Squad as the backroom changes continue at the club.
Vieira has spent the last two years as Football Development Executive at the Etihad Stadium but has been given a new role as the club makes wholesale changes to the backroom staff.
Roberto Mancini s departure from City has seen many of his backroom staff leave the club, including assistant David Platt and Attilio Lombardo, the man Vieira will be replacing.
Although no decision has been made on Mancini s replacement, the club made the decision to give Vieira his first managerial position after an illustrious playing career that saw him win Premier League titles with Arsenal and the World Cup and European Championships with France.
His final season as a player was for City, and since his retirement in 2011 he has gained his UEFA B coaching licence and is now studying towards his UEFA A licence.
Speaking about his new challenge, Vieira said he cannot wait to get going.
After spending two years working across a number of areas of the club and with a particular focus on the Youth Academy, I feel honoured and privileged to have been offered this role, he told City s official website.
This marks a new chapter both in my career and in my life and I am looking forward to it immensely. My passion for the development of young talent has only grown in my time at City and I am pleased to be able to play my part in helping to shape the footballing future for Manchester City.
Chief Executive Ferran Soriano is confident that Vieira will be successful and admitted that his new role was a particularly important one as the club look to develop their youth players to adhere to the UEFA Financial Fair Play regulations.
“Patrick is a world champion and it is a great honour that he has chosen Manchester City to begin his football management career, he said.
I have seen him carefully considering options and choosing to co
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ach for the best reasons; he has a love of the game and a willingness to continue to learn and transmit his knowledge and experience to young footballers.
Patrick s role is of the highest long term importance for the Club. The ability of the Academy, the Elite Development Squad and the first team to work together using the same football concepts is key to our success and sustainability.
