Who is Man City assistant manager Juanma Lillo and why is Pep Guardiola not in the dugout?

Juanma Lillo will take the lead in Manchester City’s game against Premier League newboys Sheffield United this afternoon, with Pep Guardiola absent.

Lillo rejoined the Manchester City coaching team earlier this summer after Enzo Maresca left the Premier League champion to join Leicester City.

The Spaniard previously worked for City between 2020 and 2022, helping the club win two Premier League titles and a Carabao Cup.

The 57-year-old left the Etihad Stadium in June 2022 to take on the role of Head Coach with Al-Sadd of the Qatar Stars League.

Mail Sport explains everything you need to know about Juanma Lillo and why Pep Guardiola is not in the dugout.

Lillo rejoined the Manchester City coaching team earlier this summer, after Enzo Maresca left for Leicester

Who is Juanma Lillo and who has he led?

Born in Tolosa, Spain, Lillo began his managerial career for local side Amaroz KE at the age of 16.

After four years at the club, the 57-year-old took charge of Tolosa. After a three-year stint with the team, Lillo moved to Mirandes.

He joined the Spanish squad in 1988 and would help the club to Segunda Division B in his first season.

At the age of 29, he became the youngest manager to coach in Spain’s top division after guiding Salamanca to La Liga in 1994.

Lillo’s greatest test came when he took charge of Real Zaragoza in 2000.

In the season before taking charge, the Spanish team had qualified for the UEFA Cup after finishing fourth in LaLiga. Lillo was tasked with progressing in European competition, but was sacked after three months in charge due to a string of poor results.

The Spaniard took a three-year break after being fired before joining Ciudad Murcia. From 2003 to 2005, Lillo took charge of Murcia and Terrassa in the Segunda Division for many years.

Lillo began his managerial career for local side Amaroz KE at the age of 16

Lillo (left) previously worked with Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in 2020

In 2005, 57-year-old Dorados joined Sinaloa in Mexico, but would leave midway through the season.

Although Lillo has spent most of his career as a manager, the Spaniard was assistant coach for Chile in 2015 and would spend a year at Sevilla in 2016.

That year, Sevilla finished fourth in LaLiga and made it to the round of 16 of the Champions League.

Lillo joined City in 2020 when he replaced Mikel Arteta as the club’s assistant manager. In his first season, City won the Premier League and finished twelve points above rivals United. They would also win the Carabao Cup, beating Tottenham 1–0 in the final.

In his second season with Manchester, the club won the league again and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League. He returned to managerial duties at Al Sadd in 2022, replacing Javi Gracia.

The Qatari side would finish third in the league, seven points behind champions Al-Duhail.

Lillo (right) was part of the City team that won the 2021 Premier League and Carabao Cup

Where is Pep Guardiola?

Guardiola had to undergo emergency surgery due to severe back pain and will miss Manchester City’s next two Premier League games.

The 52-year-old underwent surgery in Barcelona earlier this week and will remain in Catalonia to recover.

Guardiola has been struggling with back problems for a while and couldn’t resist going under the knife.

Lillo will follow training sessions and the two games before next month’s international break, away at Sheffield United and home against Fulham.

Pep Guardiola underwent back surgery earlier this week and will miss Manchester City’s next two games